ltodd

Ok, so the parking lights & tail lights on my '86 aren't working...my headlights, front & rear turn signals, brake lights & flashers do. I checked the fuses & all seemed ok. So i assumed it was the headlight switch. So i just pulled the dash & replaced the headlight switch and i have the exact same problem.
Can somebody please help me out?

L.t.

Corvette40

Grab an FSM and start tracing the wiring. There is no easier way, sorry.

ltodd

That is just what I will do...Thanks

Hooked on Vettes

Disconnect the connector plug at the headlight switch.

Becarefull because the Red wire and Orange wire are HOT all the time.

Look at the connector Orange wire and the Brown wire.
Make sure the contact pins have no burn marks or signs of over heating.

The Orange wire is HOT all the time and comes from the 10 amp tail fuse.

With a test light or volt meter, there should be 12 volts on the Orange wire.

If no 12 volts the fuse is probably blown.

If you have 12 volts on the Orange wire, with the headlight connector plug disconnected from the headlight switch, take a piece of wire and short it to the Brown wire. Make
sure the gauge of the wire you use is the same gauge or larger as the Brown wire.

The Brown wire goes to all of the Parking light bulbs and the license plate bulb.

You can't have a ground problem because the brake and turn signal filaments share
the same ground wire as the Parking lights.

First schematic shows the headliight switch and the current path for the front parking
bulbs.

Second schematic shows the current path for the rear parking bulbs.

ltodd

Thank You for your direction. I am about to get started & I hope to have this dilemna solved by days end.
Thanks Again

ltodd

Ok I have taken out the following bulbs;

Front L/R cornering - parking - driving/fog

Rear L/R marker - 4 tails - blue/brown wire for 3rd brake light

Orange has power @ h/l switch, but as soon as I jump it to brown the TAIL fuse blows.

Red has power as well. I briefly jumped it to the brown, resulting in spark & smoke (I just touched for a split second)

That is where I am now.

Any further direction?

WVZR-1

Damn you've two identical posts going for the same problem. One should do. The information I mentioned you need has been supplied in this post so you should be set. First check would be the license light, you don't mention removing it.

xrav22

I don't know if this helps but it sounds like maybey your brown wire has been compromised and is touching metal somewhere on its way to the parking lights or before I rewired my tails misc lights would go on during braking and blinking. The black ground wire in my taillight harness (it is near light 2 from left) had a crack in it. After I redid the connection all the blinkers and brake lights started working properly. Might want to make sure that ground is clean.

ltodd

After nobody responded to post in (General Discussion) for a day or so, I thought perhaps that I was in the wrong forum so I posted in the (Tech). And when I finally did get responses in both forums, I didn't want to be rude to anyone, so I continued to reply in both.
Anyway thanks for your suggestion about the license plate light.
I'm on my way to the garage!

ltodd

OK, I pulled the license plate bulb & I continue to have a problem. I changed to my other headlight switvh again just in case (with the same results)

Hooked on Vettes

The Red wire at the Headlight switch is protected by a fusible link.

After you saw smoke when you jumped the Red wire to the Brown wire do you
still have 12 volts on the Red wire?

If not, you blew the fusibile Link M shown in the schematic below.

If you look behind and below the battery you will see a metal stud and nut.
One off the positive battery cable wires goes to this jumper block where a bunch
of fusible links are attached. You will probably see one of the Red/Orange
colored wires burnt/melted.

To repair it you need to cut out the burnt part of the fusible link and solder
in a new piece. You will need to purchase a piece of 16AWG fusible link wire.

Make sure you disconnect the negative battery terminal if you do
replace the fusible link.

An indication that the fusible Link M is blown is your head lights and interior
courtesy lights no longer work.

After you get that fixed you still need to troubleshoot why the Brown wire
is shorted.

ltodd

Thanks Hooked on....Checked the headlights & the interiors and they work fine.

Hooked on Vettes

That's good news.

Now you need to find out why the Brown wire is grounded.

The problem with the Brown wire must be from the Headlight
switch connector to one of the bulb sockets.

There will be no logic where the short is. Look for any areas
where the Brown wire touches metal. Since you removed
the bulbs look inside the sockets and verify they are in
good shape have no corrosion. Also look at the wiring at each socket.

Did this problem just happen or did you buy the car like this?

Hooked on Vettes

Here's some information that can help you isolate where the problem is with
the Brown wire.

The Brown rear parking light wire goes to Pin H of Connector C209.a 15 pin connector.

Location is passenger side foot well under the dash below/near the fuse box.

If you can find it disconnect it. If the tail fuse no longer blows and
the front marker lights work, that indicates the problem is from the Brown
wire at the connector back to the rear parking lamps.

If the tail fuse still blows you know the problem is probably in the front parking
lamp harness.

ltodd

CF, GREAT GRAPHICS!!!

HAD TO GET AWAY FROM THIS FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS (MY WIFE IS HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH HER CAR)

I FOUND #209 RIGHT WHERE YOU SAID IT WOULD BE, UNDER/BELOW THE FUSE PANEL. I DISCONNECTED IT & FRONT LIGHTS WORK W/O BLOWING THE TAIL FUSE

A GOOD FRIEND OFFERED MY HIS 'MAC TOOLS FAULT FINDER'
SO I AM GOING IN NOW TO TRY TO FINALLY RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

ALL OFF YOU HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL!

Delwoody

I failed to mention when the brake lights and tail lights stop working. My headlights are fine. What I have found is there is a fusible type circuit breaker on the top position of my fuse box. It was as hot as fire and opens up. When it cools off it then powers everything up as it should until it gets hot again, and opens. Also failed to mention the dash lights go out at the same time as the above mentioned as well.

Ray Quayle

Well at least you remembered. AFTER A DECADE! Maybe you are replying to the wrong post?