Help turn signal issue
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Mechanicsville Maryland
Help turn signal issue
Hello I have just got my corvette back from paint and before I put the rear tail light lens back on I checked lights and turn signals etc... The passenger side rear turn signal is not working. I have changed the light bulb with a known good one still not working. Hazard lights flash only driver side and front lamps. I turn on headlamps and that rear element lights. When I turn on the turn signal the dash indicator lights solid (no flashing) and no light in the back passenger lamp. If I look close at the front lamp it is extremely dim and solid. The sockets are clean with no paint and corrosion. Do the wires run along the side where the door thresholds are. Just trying to see if maybe a wire is pinched. Everything worked fine before the paint job.
Paul
This was posted in General but I guess here might be better.
Paul
This was posted in General but I guess here might be better.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,211
Likes: 4,300
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi P.E,
The rear lighting harness runs along the left rocker channel under the carpet and just to the inside of the sill plate.
The sill plate needs to be removed to access the harness.
Back at the lights…are all the grounds connected? I believe there's one at each light. The ground forms a 'string' from light to light.
Regards,
Alan
The rear lighting harness runs along the left rocker channel under the carpet and just to the inside of the sill plate.
The sill plate needs to be removed to access the harness.
Back at the lights…are all the grounds connected? I believe there's one at each light. The ground forms a 'string' from light to light.
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Mechanicsville Maryland
Hi P.E,
The rear lighting harness runs along the left rocker channel under the carpet and just to the inside of the sill plate.
The sill plate needs to be removed to access the harness.
Back at the lights…are all the grounds connected? I believe there's one at each light. The ground forms a 'string' from light to light.
Regards,
Alan
The rear lighting harness runs along the left rocker channel under the carpet and just to the inside of the sill plate.
The sill plate needs to be removed to access the harness.
Back at the lights…are all the grounds connected? I believe there's one at each light. The ground forms a 'string' from light to light.
Regards,
Alan
Paul
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I think I would double check the parking lamp connection to the main harness. It's pretty common for the ground to not make contact and then back feed. I feel sure you have a ground issue. You could up-plug the parking lamp and insert a test lamp in it's place. Use the light blue and black wires (lh side) and the dark blue and black (rh side). (the brown wire is the parking lamp)
If that's not the case I'd then pull the lens and bulb out of the tail lamp and with test light, test the brass in the housing is a good ground. If you don't have a good ground on the brass then touch the housing stud.
If you have done the above then the next place I would check would be the turn signal switch connector. Make sure it's plugged in nice and tight.
Willcox
If that's not the case I'd then pull the lens and bulb out of the tail lamp and with test light, test the brass in the housing is a good ground. If you don't have a good ground on the brass then touch the housing stud.
If you have done the above then the next place I would check would be the turn signal switch connector. Make sure it's plugged in nice and tight.
Willcox
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Nov 23, 2014 at 04:53 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Mechanicsville Maryland
I think I would double check the parking lamp connection to the main harness. It's pretty common for the ground to not make contact and then back feed. I feel sure you have a ground issue. You could up-plug the parking lamp and insert a test lamp in it's place. Use the light blue and black wires (lh side) and the dark blue and black (rh side). (the brown wire is the parking lamp)
If that's not the case I'd then pull the lens and bulb out of the tail lamp and with test light, test the brass in the housing is a good ground. If you don't have a good ground on the brass then touch the housing stud.
If you have done the above then the next place I would check would be the turn signal switch connector. Make sure it's plugged in nice and tight.
Willcox
If that's not the case I'd then pull the lens and bulb out of the tail lamp and with test light, test the brass in the housing is a good ground. If you don't have a good ground on the brass then touch the housing stud.
If you have done the above then the next place I would check would be the turn signal switch connector. Make sure it's plugged in nice and tight.
Willcox
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,421
Likes: 1,558
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
If that's not the case I'd then pull the lens and bulb out of the tail lamp and with test light, test the brass in the housing is a good ground. If you don't have a good ground on the brass then touch the housing stud.
Many times the connection where the black wire goes into the brass light socket corrodes and you loose the ground. Here's a way to check.
Connect a wire to a good ground and touch the brass and see if the bulb lights up.
Many times the connection where the black wire goes into the brass light socket corrodes and you loose the ground. Here's a way to check.
Connect a wire to a good ground and touch the brass and see if the bulb lights up.
Last edited by Peterbuilt; Nov 24, 2014 at 12:01 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Mechanicsville Maryland
If that's not the case I'd then pull the lens and bulb out of the tail lamp and with test light, test the brass in the housing is a good ground. If you don't have a good ground on the brass then touch the housing stud.
Many times the connection where the black wire goes into the brass light socket corrodes and you loose the ground. Here's a way to check.
Connect a wire to a good ground and touch the brass and see if the bulb lights up.
Many times the connection where the black wire goes into the brass light socket corrodes and you loose the ground. Here's a way to check.
Connect a wire to a good ground and touch the brass and see if the bulb lights up.
Anyone know where the front to back diconnect connector is located?
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,421
Likes: 1,558
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Checking if you have 12 volts at both sides of the harmonica connection might fix your open circuit.
The next connection might be at #3.
The next connection might be at #3.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Mechanicsville Maryland
My lights are ALL working now thanks to Willcox Corvette's diagram. It ended up being the connector under the dash. I unpluged it to put 12volts on it and I told myself that I needed to check what is not working and what is working first. So I plugged the connector back together and started with the Hazard lights and they worked so with those working the turn signal should too. Sure enough I tried the turn signal and they worked. The painter must have kicked the connector getting in and out of the car. Everyone thanks for all the help.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
My lights are ALL working now thanks to Willcox Corvette's diagram. It ended up being the connector under the dash. I unpluged it to put 12volts on it and I told myself that I needed to check what is not working and what is working first. So I plugged the connector back together and started with the Hazard lights and they worked so with those working the turn signal should too. Sure enough I tried the turn signal and they worked. The painter must have kicked the connector getting in and out of the car. Everyone thanks for all the help.
Have a happy Thanksgiving.
Willcox
