Wiring Question: Rear Passenger Lights
11-08-2003 | 05:37 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 448
Likes: 0
From: Newton, MA
Wiring Question: Rear Passenger Lights
Strange, all of a sudden my rear passenger brake and parking/ main light indicators do not light. The turn signal works, but the other lamps do not. It does not appear to be the bulbs as they work when I switch them R-L and the fuses are OK.
Where does the harness enter into the rear light assembly? I could not see it in the engine bay. I did not see it from below, under the car. Is it a plastic coupler that could have come loose or corroded contacts?
It's location would be appreciated.
BTW: for those that were interested in the "drift to the right"... I adjusted the front right height up 1/8" and removed 5# of air from the left side tires and it's almost gone. I also re-measured the rear height to the torsion bar covers and noticed the left rear higher 1/4". I'll adjust that too; Drive and evaluate. If OK, then I'll fill back the tires; Then align.
Where does the harness enter into the rear light assembly? I could not see it in the engine bay. I did not see it from below, under the car. Is it a plastic coupler that could have come loose or corroded contacts?
It's location would be appreciated.
BTW: for those that were interested in the "drift to the right"... I adjusted the front right height up 1/8" and removed 5# of air from the left side tires and it's almost gone. I also re-measured the rear height to the torsion bar covers and noticed the left rear higher 1/4". I'll adjust that too; Drive and evaluate. If OK, then I'll fill back the tires; Then align.
11-10-2003 | 12:24 PM
#2
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 448
Likes: 0
From: Newton, MA
getting closer...
OK, so i'm answering my own questions/ talking out loud. Maybe someone else will learn something during this...
I did locate the plastic 6 pin terminal to the tail light assembly in the engine bay. I tested with an old multi-tuning volt/ dwell/ idle meter and found power to the pins (brake, parking/ main beam, directional, back-up). Good.
It was difficult but I got the assembly free from the fender (the open fender-well screw was corroded, needed extraction, Dremel, you know the drill). Tested the bulb bottom contacts in the housing and found power. Good, but no illumination still.
I suspect a bad ground for the assembly (my old meter did not have an OHM setting so I could not test the bulb body (ground side) to the chassis to prove that).
I did not see a grounding strap or wire for the assembly so I suspect one of the pins in the plastic terminal is a return ground.
Does anyone have a diagram if this 6-pin coupler? Where is the ground location (G414) the wiring diagram says is for the tail light?
I did locate the plastic 6 pin terminal to the tail light assembly in the engine bay. I tested with an old multi-tuning volt/ dwell/ idle meter and found power to the pins (brake, parking/ main beam, directional, back-up). Good.
It was difficult but I got the assembly free from the fender (the open fender-well screw was corroded, needed extraction, Dremel, you know the drill). Tested the bulb bottom contacts in the housing and found power. Good, but no illumination still.
I suspect a bad ground for the assembly (my old meter did not have an OHM setting so I could not test the bulb body (ground side) to the chassis to prove that).
I did not see a grounding strap or wire for the assembly so I suspect one of the pins in the plastic terminal is a return ground.
Does anyone have a diagram if this 6-pin coupler? Where is the ground location (G414) the wiring diagram says is for the tail light?
11-15-2003 | 05:10 PM
#3
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 448
Likes: 0
From: Newton, MA
Again, I'll continue post for those who care about troubleshooting the tail light system...
I beleive I've found the source of the problem. I get no voltage to the top of the #7 fuse in set 2 of the luggage fuse box (the right side tail light power). So that means either the wire from the dash switch is bad or the switch is bad. So, I put the meter to the spade connector of the switch for left then right and found only power on the left..... TADAH!!! A faulty headlight switch.
For now, I'll bridge fuse #6 (left side tail light power) to fuse #7. I get the entire right rear side assembly, including the front right, to work. Next move is to remove, clean and thoroughly examine the switch. Replace it if necessary.
I beleive I've found the source of the problem. I get no voltage to the top of the #7 fuse in set 2 of the luggage fuse box (the right side tail light power). So that means either the wire from the dash switch is bad or the switch is bad. So, I put the meter to the spade connector of the switch for left then right and found only power on the left..... TADAH!!! A faulty headlight switch.
For now, I'll bridge fuse #6 (left side tail light power) to fuse #7. I get the entire right rear side assembly, including the front right, to work. Next move is to remove, clean and thoroughly examine the switch. Replace it if necessary.