What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

Lighting Issues

Chief Brody

Chief Brody

"Amity Island Welcomes You"
 Premium
GMOTM Winner
Joined
May 18, 2010
Posts
9,606
Reaction score
1,980
Location
Alabama
I got the new harness in and the new laminated circuit on the dash bucket...

but when I turn on the headlights, they come on but the rear taillights don't and the front amber lights don't either.

When I turn on the drivers side blinker only the rear blinks...not the front or fron side marker

When I turn on the right turn signal the the sidemarker light blinks and the rear but not the front amber...

DSC_00030003-33.jpg
 
Double check your grounds. There may be a strap you are missing. 75% of all automotive electrical problems are usually the grounding. The grounding on the turn signals is made thru the bucket of the light not a wire generally.
 
I am going to go look and write down what works and what doesn't
 
All that fresh paint may be acting as insulator. Do you have the star washer under ground eyelet?
 
1. Headlights on = Nothing but headlights

2. Emergency flashers = no front drivers side lights / all others work

3. Drivers side turn signal = no front blinkers, rear works

4. Passenger side turn signal = all passenger side blinkers work

5. Backup / Reverse lights work

6. Brake lights work
 
Headlights on but nothing else for me was a fuse. Have you checked the fuses yet? Im also voting ground issue. If i remember right, there is a left side ground and a right side ground for the headlight harness. Both of them need star washers under them to bite into the metal.
 
y5mgisi said:
Headlights on but nothing else for me was a fuse. Have you checked the fuses yet? Im also voting ground issue. If i remember right, there is a left side ground and a right side ground for the headlight harness. Both of them need star washers under them to bite into the metal.
Click to expand...


Yep I checked all the fuses...pulled them out and put a meter to them

There is a ground to the radiator core support on the left side and the right side...don't know if they have star washers or not...will go have a look
 
No star washers...wonder where you get them?

BUT, I took the grounds loose and wired them directly to the battery ground post....still nothing
 
I would probably just nab some from the junk yard but im sure lowes probably has them. Aside from the ground issue, im clueless.
 
One at a time chief. That is the only way to fix these type things. If everything had been hooked up and working before, then you can go for the big fix that fixes everything at once.

Here, you may have multiple problems. So, pick one light, and concentrate on it. When you find what it wrong with it, it might fix all of them, or it might tell you what to look for on the others.

Pick a bulb that is not working, and make darn sure its good. Actually put power on it to see if it lights up.

Then, power up the circuit, and check for power with a known good ground. If you don't have power, then start backtracking until you find where its stopping.

If you have power to ground, then start checking grounds.

The star washers are fairly common, and can be found in many hardware or automotive shops.
But, I would suggest going to where the Orca is docked and check the marine parts store.
You can find stainless steel star washers. Nice and hard and will not rust.
 
Seems most of the trouble is in the front drivers side(flasher). Make sure the turn signal bucket is getting a good solid ground thru the screw that is attaching it to the valance. Also check that the secondary filiment is good, then check signal on wire with multi meter. You can also ring out the wire to make sure it goes from switch to lamp with no breaks.
 
Jester1 said:
Seems most of the trouble is in the front drivers side(flasher). Make sure the turn signal bucket is getting a good solid ground thru the screw that is attaching it to the valance. Also check that the secondary filiment is good, then check signal on wire with multi meter. You can also ring out the wire to make sure it goes from switch to lamp with no breaks.
Click to expand...

As best I can tell, the socket is grounded through the harness...the right lamp works and it is just hanging loose like the drivers side...

secondary filament is good...checked it in the rear socket

"ring out" ???
 
First check ALL bulbs either with a meter or do a quick job manually adding power and ground to them to make sure they illuminate. I would also just replace both of the flasher units since they're cheap and i've seen failures like this because of a bad flasher.
 
Neg cable from batt goes to engine, engine should have ground strap to firewall.
Do you have a small ground wire from neg term on batt to fender. My temp gauge needle use to have a mind of its own when turning off the truck, engine ground strap cured that. Try running a separate ground wire from batt directly to one of the lights that doesn't work, to see if it comes on to verify ground problem. You could probe a light ground wire with a safety pin and connect that directly to batt neg with the separate wire if you don't mind doing that.

Wiper motor: Power at fuse and/or motor? Motor has a park switch in it could be bad. (just a thought) :thinking:
 
All bulbs have been checked
I have grounded direct to battery and still nothing

will go out there in a little and follow the rear harness all the way back and see if there are any problems.
 
Ring out is a term or method to trace a wire without physically tracing a wire. It will also help you trace dead shorts or power to ground/neutral. Look at your multi meter and see if it has a little speaker looking icon. Turn to that and touch the to leads together. If you hear a sound or "ring" then you are on the right setting. Touch 1 probe to each end of the wire and if it make noise you have the correct wire. If you touch a + to any - and it rings you may have a problem. Or it is reading thru a light bulb. This method will help you sort out and evaluate individual wires and actually help you test for a good ground.
 
This is insane...I went and bought more new bulbs and a continuity tester with a tone and a light.

There is no power getting to the drivers side front turn signal socket or sidemarker.

Yet there is on the right side...and the right side is "after" the drivers side in the harness...if there are loops, the passenger side is last in line...it doesn't make sense.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom