Parking Lights
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Parking Lights
The parking lights on The Ghost are dead. No front parking lights, no fog lights, no rear parking lights, and no dashboard/gauges lights.
Headlights, and hazard lights work.
Never had this problem before.
All fuses, and bulbs are OK
What would it be?
Headlights, and hazard lights work.
Never had this problem before.
All fuses, and bulbs are OK
What would it be?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,383
Likes: 2,736
I might be the "only one" that doesn't know the year of The Ghost but regardless the year I believe you need to look no further than the light switch. If total functionality returns when the light switch is placed in H/L position I'd think that's all of the diagnostics required. Switch more likely than connector I'd think.
Depending on the year either exercising the rod or rotating of the control might return functionality.
Depending on the year either exercising the rod or rotating of the control might return functionality.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,383
Likes: 2,736
OP mentioned checking fuses and I would have assumed that the OP might have walked to the rear of the car to check the tails with H/L on.
I mentioned "switch IF full functionality returned" when switch in the H/L position. If OP turns H/L on and walks to rear of car and there are still no tails, s/m, park etc then replaces fuse with known good then the switch is still the likely failure.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,605
Likes: 202
From: Trinity FL
WVZR-1 - You are probably right.
Just throwing out some info. I had a chinese Xentec HID fog kit from ebay installed on my car for one summer because it was the current fad. After a couple months one of the ballasts started shorting out and was popping my "TAIL" fuse repeatedly which resulted in the exact same symptoms the Ghost is experiencing. Replaced the ballast and then the other ballast started shorting. Scrapped all that junk and went back to regular philips halogen bulbs for fogs and all problems were solved
Just throwing out some info. I had a chinese Xentec HID fog kit from ebay installed on my car for one summer because it was the current fad. After a couple months one of the ballasts started shorting out and was popping my "TAIL" fuse repeatedly which resulted in the exact same symptoms the Ghost is experiencing. Replaced the ballast and then the other ballast started shorting. Scrapped all that junk and went back to regular philips halogen bulbs for fogs and all problems were solved
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,931
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From: Ashland Alabama
That's the fun part of helping across the internet you just have to go with whats mentioned.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,163
Likes: 4,171
From: Kannapolis NC
OP mentioned checking fuses and I would have assumed that the OP might have walked to the rear of the car to check the tails with H/L on.
I mentioned "switch IF full functionality returned" when switch in the H/L position. If OP turns H/L on and walks to rear of car and there are still no tails, s/m, park etc then replaces fuse with known good then the switch is still the likely failure.
I mentioned "switch IF full functionality returned" when switch in the H/L position. If OP turns H/L on and walks to rear of car and there are still no tails, s/m, park etc then replaces fuse with known good then the switch is still the likely failure.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
96
I checked all side fuses, under the hood fuses, and they are all good.
The front & rear lights work with the hazard lights, and turn lights only.
The dash lights do not work either with parking or headlights.
The Vette starts, and runs.
I guess I got to buy the lights switch.
I checked all side fuses, under the hood fuses, and they are all good.
OP mentioned checking fuses and I would have assumed that the OP might have walked to the rear of the car to check the tails with H/L on.
I mentioned "switch IF full functionality returned" when switch in the H/L position. If OP turns H/L on and walks to rear of car and there are still no tails, s/m, park etc then replaces fuse with known good then the switch is still the likely failure.
I mentioned "switch IF full functionality returned" when switch in the H/L position. If OP turns H/L on and walks to rear of car and there are still no tails, s/m, park etc then replaces fuse with known good then the switch is still the likely failure.
The dash lights do not work either with parking or headlights.
The Vette starts, and runs.
I guess I got to buy the lights switch.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,163
Likes: 4,171
From: Kannapolis NC
Before you order switches and start taking things apart, you should measure the voltage starting at the fuse box, and then to the switch. If you have the voltage going into the switch, but not out, then the switch is likely. There are several other things that will cause the tail light and dash lamps, to be out. You have to have 12v at the fuse for tail lamps (on both sides of fuse) first. If you're up to it, you could jump 12v to the park light connector on the switch and see if they light up.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,383
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There should be no reason to buy the dimmer and as it's been mentioned there's checks that need done. The fact that the dash is gone also hints towards the H/L switch I'd think. I believe the fuses in '96 might still have been ATO so you could probe the fuses with out removing to check fuse continuity. If it's an ATC or been changed to ATC then that's not possible.
GOOGLE ATO 15 and you should see the dimples where the conductor can be probed without removing. ATC those dimples aren't available.
GOOGLE ATO 15 and you should see the dimples where the conductor can be probed without removing. ATC those dimples aren't available.
2nd Gear
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
On my 96 I have to jiggle the light switch for all the lights to come on. If I don't I just get headlights
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
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From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Thanks for all responses. Let me go back to how this happened.
I was flipping back & forward the lights while trying to align the headlights at the half-way point to remove their covers.
I did it twice very fast, full, mid, off, full off, and when I turned them back on the parking lights never came back on.
Initially I thought "I blew up a fuse", but all the fuses are good.
I now assume I damaged the H/L switch by flipping it like I used to flip my TV when I was a kid.
I will disassemble that area (which it's a PITA), test the headlight switch, and go from there.
I was flipping back & forward the lights while trying to align the headlights at the half-way point to remove their covers.
I did it twice very fast, full, mid, off, full off, and when I turned them back on the parking lights never came back on.
Initially I thought "I blew up a fuse", but all the fuses are good.
I now assume I damaged the H/L switch by flipping it like I used to flip my TV when I was a kid.
I will disassemble that area (which it's a PITA), test the headlight switch, and go from there.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,163
Likes: 4,171
From: Kannapolis NC
You could have rolled the headlights where you wanted them with the manual *****, but that doesn't help now. I'd be surprised if flipping the switch off/on a few times damaged it. I think you lost voltage somewhere else. Did you measure voltage on both sides of the fuse? (fuse #6, passenger side dash)
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
You could have rolled the headlights where you wanted them with the manual *****, but that doesn't help now. I'd be surprised if flipping the switch off/on a few times damaged it. I think you lost voltage somewhere else. Did you measure voltage on both sides of the fuse? (fuse #6, passenger side dash)
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Update, and need more help
First, I'd like to say Thank You to 'bow tie guy"
This tool is awesome, and found a short on the fog light's wire.
Now all lights work, but the gauges lights are still out. The speedometer/square LCD works.
Again, I checked ALL FUSES visually, and with a voltmeter, and all checked out.
Is there a relay that controls this?
Anything direction will be appreciated.
PS. while upside down underneath the driver's side dash I noticed "coolant" drops hanging behind the pedals. I started with the #1 question; WTF?? Found out the clutch master cylinder has gone bad. I already removed it, and ordered a new one. For a second T thought I had to remove the booster, but the ratchet fit perfectly down there, and was able to remove both bolts.
First, I'd like to say Thank You to 'bow tie guy"
This tool is awesome, and found a short on the fog light's wire.
Now all lights work, but the gauges lights are still out. The speedometer/square LCD works.
Again, I checked ALL FUSES visually, and with a voltmeter, and all checked out.
Is there a relay that controls this?
Anything direction will be appreciated.
PS. while upside down underneath the driver's side dash I noticed "coolant" drops hanging behind the pedals. I started with the #1 question; WTF?? Found out the clutch master cylinder has gone bad. I already removed it, and ordered a new one. For a second T thought I had to remove the booster, but the ratchet fit perfectly down there, and was able to remove both bolts.
Last edited by PLRX; Jan 17, 2016 at 08:53 PM.
