No tail lights
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 4
Likes: 1
No tail lights
I have a 1979 corvette. Two days ago I noticed the right turn blinker was not working every time. Went to check fuses last night and noticed now I have no tail lights, brake lights and neither directional is working now. Hazards work fine. Not sure where to go from here
Pro
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 729
Likes: 118
From: Kelowna British Columbia
Check your fuses. Also use a test light or meter to do this as the metal tangs that fuses go in can corrode so touch each side of the fuse on metal clip to ensure curent is flowing. Original problem could be the pigtail socket for the turn signal. These are old cars so take bulb out and check for corrosion inside. May have to replace. Also check grounds for both lights and even take it off and clean up and reinstall
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 4
Likes: 1
Check your fuses. Also use a test light or meter to do this as the metal tangs that fuses go in can corrode so touch each side of the fuse on metal clip to ensure curent is flowing. Original problem could be the pigtail socket for the turn signal. These are old cars so take bulb out and check for corrosion inside. May have to replace. Also check grounds for both lights and even take it off and clean up and reinstall
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,145
Likes: 9,274
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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I had a similar problem and the wiring behind the fuse block that connects the fuse holders to their respective posts melted. You may have to disconnect the panel and peek behind it f there isnt any other obvioius problems. I started with the power at the fuses then at the switch. Some of the fuse panel doesnt get power unless the light switch is on so keep that in mind
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 128
Likes: 13
From: Gordonville Lake Texoma Tx
On my 68 it was a ground problem. Both of the turn signals would light up, but not flash, and the tail light did not come on. I took out the bulbs an sockets and cleaned them well and this solved my problem. I too thought it was the fuse. I guess I was not getting a good ground where the socket fit into the bulbs housing.
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 4
Likes: 1
So I checked fuses they were fine. Replaced bulbs, no luck there either but they needed to be replaced. Checked ground and it was good. Tested each terminal in light assembly. Both worked fine. One lit when parking lights were on, the other lit when hazards were on. Test light didn't come on for directionals or brake lights. Interesting side note, fuse for reverse lights and directionals are on same fuse, hazards and brake lights are on another. Anyways, any other suggestions or ideas before I order a new turn signal switch?
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,414
Likes: 126
From: Mequon WI
This sure sounds like a corrosion, bad ground. Try putting a meter to the electrical connector lead using the battery as a ground
Rescue: Do you have any kind words for the personn who decided to put the fuse box where they did?
Rescue: Do you have any kind words for the personn who decided to put the fuse box where they did?
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Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,145
Likes: 9,274
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Ya but the code of conduct here won't let me say them. Everytime I want to,... I mean NEED to crawl under the dash, i try my best to do it with a mirror, a headlamp and both arms stretched in front of me, coming in from the side. If that doesnt work, out comes the seat so I dont end up looking like the hunch back of notre dam. then I can crawl in and just lay on the floor and start crying...errr working
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,145
Likes: 9,274
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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I just had the turn signal switch come slightly apart, ( Its an IDIDIT switch for theri 68 tilt column) and it gave me a chance to use all those fancy words I learned as a sailor. The horn runs though their turn signal switch housing so every time I touched the wheel the horn would blow. That was fun. I don't know if you'll get to experience that with an original style switch. Good luck!!
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,145
Likes: 9,274
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
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In your trouble shooting, you could disconnect the wiring harness for the switch at the column, jumper a live wire from your fuse block and using a wiring diagram put power to each lamp lead and see if the correct wire will light the bulb. You could also jumper the power in that harness directly to the lamp wire as well. With the harness disconnected there wont be any power going back there other than what you send and if there is no ground you will see no light. As long as your ground is good it will tell you if the path from the switch harness back is good
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,145
Likes: 9,274
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
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I was at a car show and someone was saying what a great idea it would be to do that.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 428
From: Cape Girardeau Missouri
While I knew I had two bad discs in my neck (after surgery on another many years ago when I was young) working under the dash seemed to be the literal straw that broke the camel's back. A year of waiting for the inevitable surgery due to medical greed--no other way to put it--opiate addition and nearly two years of recovery and 50# of weight because I continued to eat like normal later I'm just now ready to work on the Corvette again. Actually I'm thankful for the Corvette because I'm very tall and it was the only car or truck I own that I could tolerate entering and exiting (tops removed of course
) for months after the surgery!
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 428
From: Cape Girardeau Missouri
To the OP:
Merely finding a ground doesn't mean it's a good ground.
I do home renovations and there's a saying that, "Most old house problems are related to water." I agree. My similar saying is, "Nearly all electric problems in old Corvettes are related to grounds."
Merely finding a ground doesn't mean it's a good ground.
I do home renovations and there's a saying that, "Most old house problems are related to water." I agree. My similar saying is, "Nearly all electric problems in old Corvettes are related to grounds."
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 4
Likes: 1
I had a chance to work on it last night after getting home from work. Contorted myself upside down and slid under dash and disconnected wiring harness cleaned it up a little and reconnected...problem solved! Thanks for all the advice