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Help! Brake Lights/Turn Signal Problem

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Old Apr 10, 2005 | 06:06 PM
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Default Help! Brake Lights/Turn Signal Problem

Ok this is the strangest thing i've ever seen.

I go for a drive saturday, everything works perfectly, turn signals, stop lights, everything.

I start it up sunday.

When i put my foot on the brakes the interior turn signal indicators turn on, both of them. The tail lights work as normal, and when i hit the brakes the front turn signal lamps illuminate. It is almost as if my brake pedal is hooked up to the turn signals.

When i turn on the turn signals nothing happens.

I changed out the flasher, same thing.

To the flasher I have 12V+ on one side, all the time. And nothing on the other terminal.

Spliced into my brake light switch bubba style is what I would describe as an M80. There was also one spliced into my turn signal flasher. This modification defintaely is not stock. I'm wondering what these things are and if they might be part of the problem..

Thanks in advance for you help. Mike Cook
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Old Apr 10, 2005 | 06:20 PM
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This type of problem is common on non mettalic bodied cars that require a wired earth and is caused by a bad earth connection somewhere in the lighting circuit.
It is difficult to localise without hands on testing but check your earthing connections on the individual lamps.
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Old Apr 10, 2005 | 06:48 PM
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It is definitely a ground wire problem. Check all the ground wires.....
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Old Apr 10, 2005 | 07:00 PM
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oh god, i don't even know where to start? There are TONS of ground under that dash. Any suggestions?

Would this be a bad ground under the dash, at the lamps, if so, which ones? front or rears? All 4 directional lamps work when i hit the brake pedal so the bulbs are getting good ground.

Last edited by i885744; Apr 10, 2005 at 07:08 PM.
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Old Apr 10, 2005 | 07:10 PM
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Easiest way is to try and raise the fault...get the lights failing... then go round the car moving the wiring looms or specifically the ground wires. Try the exterior side lights first as they get most abuse from the elements. Hopefully moving the wires will reconnect the earth and will clear the fault. Once located reconnect the earth properly.
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Old Apr 10, 2005 | 07:39 PM
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check that your hazard **** isn't on...then pull the hazard flasher...seen this happen on a camaro once. step on brakes, interior turn indicators came on, as well as both front signals.
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Old Apr 10, 2005 | 07:57 PM
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Originally Posted by homers3
check that your hazard **** isn't on...then pull the hazard flasher...seen this happen on a camaro once. step on brakes, interior turn indicators came on, as well as both front signals.
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Old Apr 10, 2005 | 08:03 PM
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Those little M-80's are capacitors put into the circuit to save the switches when you take your foot off the brake. They quench some of the arc created when you break the brake light circuit by taking your foot off the pedal. Normal for them to be there.
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Old Apr 11, 2005 | 02:41 AM
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were is the hazard flasher? My hazards haven't worked in years. I only saw the 1 flasher under the dash on the passenger side.
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Old Apr 11, 2005 | 02:45 AM
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Oh my god. Yea, i hit the hazards wtih my knee it looks like, working great. Thanks guys.

However, my hazards do not work. Any idea why? Where should my hazard flasher be?
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