[AdamIsAdam]

Originally Posted by AdamIsAdam

I decided to start a new thread on this. Others are similar, but different year:


When I got my car 2 weeks ago, the lights mostly worked, but not consistently and not all brightly. So I ordered all new bulbs. I know the grounds work by contact, so I figured I'd look there too.

Oh, and is it normal to only have brake lights with key in ON/ACC position?

When I got the new bulbs and started to install them, I pulled the sockets out with the parking lights on. I blew a fuse. I replaced it and proceeded with the bulbs. Some were hard to get out and then in. I now suspect I was putting them in backwards.

Also, I now understand that the center bulbs are single elements (P/N 93, not the dual element P/N 1157 as listed in several catelogs). See attached chart.

So after playing around, I successfully killed my tail lights all together! I have left side brake lights sometimes. If I play with the turn signal switch, I sometimes have both brake lights.

So this morning I went out and figured i'd remove the center bulbs since they're not correct and I thought maybe they're actually causing a short. That did nothing. I now have no brake lights and no tail lights. I left in frustration.

I ordered a rear harness and 6 new correct bulbs. The harness has been cut and patched with different types of sockets before I got it. Not all connections are great. But regardless, even at the wires I don't seem to get power for parking lights now.

I have power at the fuse box.

Also, are the bulbs supposed to be pretty hot to the touch when in parking light mode? they were when I had them on (the last time they worked). I'm concerned something shorted or over heated.

So I figure I'll get the new harness so that all the sockets and connections are good. I'll get new bulbs too, then start again.

I've also read that the parking lights, but not brake lights, go through the turn signal switch. So that's another trouble area to look at.

lastly, the right front turn signal doesn't aways work. And and speed at which the lights flash varies. I assumed due to shorting bulbs and/or grounds. Which is why I started with new bulbs in the first place!

argh!

Open to suggestions on how to proceed.

I will review wiring with a test light or multi meter tonight and report back. I still don't understand why I lost what lighting I previously had.

If I only have one light bulb in all of the rear 6 sockets (5 empty), should that one work correctly when grounded?