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problem with my lights...

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Old May 19, 2007 | 07:40 AM
  #1  
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Default problem with my lights...

Ok I have a 76' and when I use both of my turn indicators the lights stay o but dont flash. BUT the hazzards work fine. ALSO my brake lights work but the left light is normal brightness, and the right tail light is VERY week. BUT the when I use my headlights. My brake lights don't work at all. Is there a easy solution to this? I replaced the tail lights with new lights, and nothing happened... same problems...
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Old May 19, 2007 | 07:47 AM
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Try replacing the signal flasher. It's located on the passenger side, under or behind the knee pad, up under. You'll have to get on your back and look up from under.

If all your hazards work then I suspect the flasher.

When you replaced all your brake lights were you sure to use 1157 bulbs and not 1156? They look similar enough to make a mistake, I know I have.

After double checking all the bulbs are 1157, I would use a multi meter and go through and test every socket for a good ground and good 12V at both contacts in the sockets.

If the ground goes bad you won't have any light. The fact that your signals work is a good sign.
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Old May 19, 2007 | 07:54 AM
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yea I went to Autozone, and they told me to get 1157.. I'll try to find a multi meter.. Can I buy the signal flasher at autozone? Or do you just mean a simple fuse?
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Old May 19, 2007 | 07:59 AM
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Originally Posted by vettlibito
yea I went to Autozone, and they told me to get 1157.. I'll try to find a multi meter.. Can I buy the signal flasher at autozone? Or do you just mean a simple fuse?

Yep you can get a signal flasher at Autozone. Take the old one so you get the right one.

When testing the contacts, if you're having trouble finding a proper ground, run your own from the ground on the battery. I did this for the power as well to test the contacts as I wanted to make sure I had proper ground and 12V when testing the other.
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Old May 19, 2007 | 10:40 AM
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Default Vader Vette

Mine kinda did the same thing when I put on the bumper on the back I just cleaned up my ground contacts on the back bumper metal area and everything started to blink and look the same brightness. thats what I would try next
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Old May 19, 2007 | 11:39 AM
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Originally Posted by Durango_boy
Try replacing the signal flasher. It's located on the passenger side, under or behind the knee pad, up under. You'll have to get on your back and look up from under.

If all your hazards work then I suspect the flasher.

When you replaced all your brake lights were you sure to use 1157 bulbs and not 1156? They look similar enough to make a mistake, I know I have.

After double checking all the bulbs are 1157, I would use a multi meter and go through and test every socket for a good ground and good 12V at both contacts in the sockets.

If the ground goes bad you won't have any light. The fact that your signals work is a good sign.


The brake lights stop working with the headlights on, sounds like you have a ground problem and a short somewhere.
The salt water might have got your car, now that you are in Hawaii.

Last edited by Jc3vette; May 19, 2007 at 11:42 AM.
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Old May 20, 2007 | 05:49 PM
  #7  
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where are the ground points on the car for the rear lights?
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Old May 20, 2007 | 08:58 PM
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Attachment shows the rear lighting wiring diagram for a 73 Corvette. Your 76 should be close to the same.
for the rear lights, where the tail light bulb plug into the socket on the harness there should be two wires one should be Black. you should be able to trace this wire to the ground.
Good luck.
tail lights.doc
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Old May 21, 2007 | 12:07 AM
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Originally Posted by Lon Wayne
Mine kinda did the same thing when I put on the bumper on the back I just cleaned up my ground contacts on the back bumper metal area and everything started to blink and look the same brightness. thats what I would try next
when replacing all of my wiring i noticed this problem, but upon making sure all had good grounds it now works great!
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Old May 21, 2007 | 04:08 AM
  #10  
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From: Hudson Falls, N.Y. 76 Vette Modified L-48
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Originally Posted by Jc3vette


The brake lights stop working with the headlights on, sounds like you have a ground problem and a short somewhere.
The salt water might have got your car, now that you are in Hawaii.
Definately a ground problem....make sure all bulbs are good and use a jumper to create an alternate ground to frame to test each socket, and before that, make sure your frame grounds to engine are clean and tight....
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Old May 22, 2007 | 04:02 AM
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i had the same kind of problem on my 71,believe it or not replace your headlight switch.
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