Signal/brakelight issue

Discussion in 'Sparky's corner' started by Randy Lutz, Jul 24, 2019.

  1. Randy Lutz

    Randy Lutz Well-Known Member

    This is a carry over from the flickering light problem I had a few weeks back.

    The flicker has been resolved, not sure how, but it seems to have gone away. Perhaps it was cleaning the headlight switch.

    However, a new issue has manifested. The left signals do not work and in conjunction with that, the left tail lights appear to be as bright as the right brakelights when the brake pedal is pushed. Pushing the pedal does not increase the brightness of the left taillights.

    I have cleaned the light switch and reinstalled, with no improvement. So I then installed a new headlight switch, with the same results.

    I am thinking it may be the signal switch harness in the steering column. Does that sound like the culprit to you who are more knowledgeable than myself?

    Thank
    Randy
     
  2. telriv

    telriv Founders Club Member

    Could be new bulbs don't have correct contacts or the bulbs are in backwards.
     
  3. GSX 554

    GSX 554 Gold Level Contributor

    Agreed . Check for the correct bulbs and they are installed correctly
     
  4. Randy Lutz

    Randy Lutz Well-Known Member

    It is not the bulbs. They are 1157's and installed correctly.
     
  5. TrunkMonkey

    TrunkMonkey Well-Known Member

    Gonna hate me, but, grounding/bonding.
     
  6. Randy Lutz

    Randy Lutz Well-Known Member

    I have checked all the grounds and they appear to be tight and well bonded.

    Here is what is going on:

    With lights off:
    - press brake and left rear marker light comes on along with brake lights
    - left signal works

    With parking lights on:
    - left tail light is as bright as a brake light
    - press brake and left rear marker light comes on along with brake lights
    - left signal does not work

    With headlights on:
    - press brake and left rear marker light comes on along with brake lights
    - left signal does not work

    thoughts?
     
  7. GSX 554

    GSX 554 Gold Level Contributor

    If you think its the turn signal switch try disconnecting it . But if a light is coming on ( LR MARKER LIGHT ) when you press the brake pedal its a ground issue. The brake lights are using the tail light circuit as a ground
     
  8. Randy Lutz

    Randy Lutz Well-Known Member

    I disconnected the signal switch.

    With the lights off, there are no brake lights

    With the lights on, there are no brake lights, but the left tail lights are bright (as if the brakes were on). Also, the left rear marker light does not get brighter when then the brake pedal is pressed.
     
  9. GSX 554

    GSX 554 Gold Level Contributor

    By disconnecting the Turn Signal switch you don't allow the brake light to get power to turn on . The brake lights go thru the turn signal switch to allow the side that has the turn signal on will flash and the other side will be full on .

    Still sounds like there is ground problem . What does the front turn signal do ??? I know you said the bulbs are in correctly but it sounds like the tail lights are activating the Brake light filament of the bulb
     
  10. Randy Lutz

    Randy Lutz Well-Known Member

    Front turn signal works fine if the lights are off. Once the lights are turned on, the signal does not work.

    I cannot locate a ground problem. Not saying there isn't a problem. Just saying that I cannot find it. I checked both tail light grounds (both are each grounded to their respective tail light housing assemblies. Both headlight grounds are solid and are grounded to the core support. Are there any other grounds related to the lights that I am missing?
     
  11. telriv

    telriv Founders Club Member

    Just run a bare wire from the taillight outer part of socket to a KNOWN good ground & see what happens. Easy, peezy, two minutes.
     
  12. Randy Lutz

    Randy Lutz Well-Known Member

    I noticed that one of the left tail light bulbs was brighter than the other. So I replaced all the bulbs with a new ones, eventhough they all seemed to be functioning and now everything appears to working as it should. I will keep an eye on it for a while.

    Thanks much for all your time and advice. It was/is greatly appreciated.

    Cheers
    Randy
     

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