Cascade Crew

ChrisB · Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 6:02 pm Post subject: Light/Turn signal issues!

Hey guys, hopefully somebody here will have an idea whats going on with my trans am, I'm getting frustrated lol. I love to wrench, but always hated electrical crap.

Anyways, the brake lights didn't work when I got it..I replaced the bulbs, checked fuses, replaced the brake light switch, replaced the turn signal switch in the steering column and replaced the hazard flasher as well. The brake lights are working, but the stop/haz fuse seems to keep blowing. I have it rigged with some wire around the fuse, because I need to drive the car to work. But obviously there's a short or something somewhere. Now with my lights off, the left turn signals work both front and back, the right side signals come on but don't flash. If I turn the lights on none of the turn signals work! The pass. side headlight has been out since I got the car, just haven't picked one up yet, but that shouldn't have anything to do with the signals unless I'm missing something..Any ideas! Need to get this straightened out asap!

aaron_sK · Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 6:20 pm Post subject: Re: Light/Turn signal issues!

ChrisB · Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 6:32 pm Post subject:

Yea, I don't like it either, thats why I'm racking my brain trying to figure this out. I pull the fuse out when I get home or to work which is the only place I drive the car right now for that very reason. But I need brakelights so yea lol.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 6:33 pm Post subject: Re: Light/Turn signal issues!

aaron_sK · Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 6:47 pm Post subject:

Been awhile since I died mine. I seem to remember having to pull the cluster forward, and pull the switch out from the back.

Al Hasse · Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 7:14 pm Post subject:

Might be worth a try to check the light sockets on the side you're having problems with. Since the Stop/Hazard blows, you may have a bad socket. Does your car have the red turn signal in the rear instead of amber? IIRC, the red turn signals share the same circuit as the brake lights - when the brakes are on, the blinker interrupts the brake light.

ChrisB · Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 7:20 pm Post subject:

The lenses are solid red, but the bulbs are amber of course.

I took a test light to the sockets the other day, they were all getting power, but that doesnt mean theres not a short. I wish it didn't get dark so early now, I have about an hour of daylight after work to look the car over then it's too dark to see anything in the parking lot, I miss my garage!

ChrisB · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 5:14 pm Post subject:

Ok, replaced the headlight that was out, thats working now. Put a new fuse in and it seems to not be blowing which is also good, so brake lights are working without a bypassed fuse, which is good.

However the damn turn signals aren't making sense still. The drivers side still works with the head lights off, but with them on it still doesn't work. Pass side I got to come on for a brief second but it was very faint. I think the socket for the front pass. side signal needs to be replaced but I'm not positive. I also noticed when I got back from a test drive and turned the lights off, when I hit the brakes with the lights off, the dash gauges light up and then go off as soon as I let off the brakes.

This is bizarre!

chevymad · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 6:24 pm Post subject:

Drivers side probably has a bad ground somewhere. It will only carry enough current for 1 element. As soon as you turn hte lights on, it goes out. Either the socket is bad somewhere or the ground itself.

90droptoproc · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 6:47 pm Post subject:

check continuity at each socket to ground with a multi meter, not a test light, it sounds like a broken ground somewhere.