" help/ideas needed please r.e electiecal problem"
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 469
Likes: 1
" help/ideas needed please r.e electiecal problem"
hi there guys,
hope all is well with you and all!
on my 1991 vette i have european tail lights!
anyway all has been good with the tail lights in as they all worked with brake lights,parkers,full lights on!
but now i have noticed that the right hand side inner tail light when all lights are on glows very little and is dull, but the other lights are good/bright!
and also when i put brake lights on it still glows dull!
and i have a couple of low watage l.e.d 1 watt bright lights under where the spare wheel well is and they are connected to the spare light wire switch which you can turn on/off from the cabin switch /dimmer near the light switch!
now one of them also has gone brighther and the other one dull now!
but for 6 months all the lights,inc the l.e.d lights were all working well,but now they are giving trouble!
i replaced the the light with a new globe all ready in case it was a dud globe,but still the same, dull!
what could this be please?
what can i do to check or fix this problem please?
hope some one can help please guys!
thanks again
all the best
glen
sxyvet
Australia
hope all is well with you and all!
on my 1991 vette i have european tail lights!
anyway all has been good with the tail lights in as they all worked with brake lights,parkers,full lights on!
but now i have noticed that the right hand side inner tail light when all lights are on glows very little and is dull, but the other lights are good/bright!
and also when i put brake lights on it still glows dull!
and i have a couple of low watage l.e.d 1 watt bright lights under where the spare wheel well is and they are connected to the spare light wire switch which you can turn on/off from the cabin switch /dimmer near the light switch!
now one of them also has gone brighther and the other one dull now!
but for 6 months all the lights,inc the l.e.d lights were all working well,but now they are giving trouble!
i replaced the the light with a new globe all ready in case it was a dud globe,but still the same, dull!
what could this be please?
what can i do to check or fix this problem please?
hope some one can help please guys!
thanks again
all the best
glen
sxyvet
Australia
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,097
Likes: 2
From: Richfield Utah
Well I don't know what type of circuit you are using for your light emitting diodes. First start by checking all of your grounds. Then I would look at EVERY fuse in your fuse box. A blown fuse on some other circuit can cause alot of frustration. Where you have changed from the stock wiring, and using L.E.D.'s I can't second guess your problem. I'd have to be there... 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,564
Likes: 6
From: Woodstock Georgia
LEDs seem especially sensitive to poor grounds and just one light acting up sounds like just that, a poor ground. Corrosion in a wiring connection is next possibility, especially if they were not properly sealed against moisture.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 469
Likes: 1
hi there steel breeze and aminich,
thanks for the quick responces back!
also for got to metion that when i put the turn signal left or right the dash light shows one flashing brighter than the other and on the dash they show both on and they both come on at the front of the car at once!
and only one flashed on the rear when both should of flashed on one side!
so i will check the earths now and i have already disconnected the rear underneath l.e.d wheel well lights now and i will now check the fuse box as well!
could it be that the indicator flasher box under the kick panel is on its way out do you think?
thnaks
glen
australia
thanks for the quick responces back!
also for got to metion that when i put the turn signal left or right the dash light shows one flashing brighter than the other and on the dash they show both on and they both come on at the front of the car at once!
and only one flashed on the rear when both should of flashed on one side!
so i will check the earths now and i have already disconnected the rear underneath l.e.d wheel well lights now and i will now check the fuse box as well!
could it be that the indicator flasher box under the kick panel is on its way out do you think?
thnaks
glen
australia
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
If you had a poor fuse connection or a blown fuse, ALL of your lights on that fuse would not work properly, not just one side. Also, if the flasher is defective, ALL of the turn lights wouldn't work correctly. First, measure the +12v to the dim turn signal lamp with the turn signals on and see if it is the same voltage as the good side as this will eliminate a resistance ground. I think you have low +12 because both the dash turn signal indicator and the turn signal lamps are dim, the chance that 3 grounds are defective is very unlikely! You could have a worn turn signal switch on one side. I don't understand what you are describing exactly about both turn signal lamps being on, but if that is a trouble, then you have a defective ground wire from the dash cluster and the cluster ground current is flowing through the turn signal lamps (and usually also through the high beam indicator). Go to www.batee.com for help with the dash ground problem.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 469
Likes: 1
hi jfb,
how are you!
thanks for the great expalnation mate!
what i was trying to describe was that say i put the turn signal on left side to go left well the rite side arrow comes on as well on the dash but the left arrow is brighter!
and if you were to look at the front of car both flashes are on!
also my turn signal stork/switch is broken from ware and tare and is hanging nearly by the bracket on the colum ,may be like you said the turn signal switch is stuffed now!
thanks for your help and time!
cheers
glen
how are you!
thanks for the great expalnation mate!
what i was trying to describe was that say i put the turn signal on left side to go left well the rite side arrow comes on as well on the dash but the left arrow is brighter!
and if you were to look at the front of car both flashes are on!
also my turn signal stork/switch is broken from ware and tare and is hanging nearly by the bracket on the colum ,may be like you said the turn signal switch is stuffed now!
thanks for your help and time!
cheers
glen
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,097
Likes: 2
From: Richfield Utah
Still check all those fuses. When I was in auto mechanics it was called "crazy guages" as a fuse blows in another circuit can send voltage to lights etc... In a series configuration lighting the lights much like my current limit on my bench power supply I built for my electonics work. The light soaks up the current so a certain amount of current goes to the stereo, or the amplifier I am working on. it depends on the bulb I use. Sending 2 amps into a direct short is alot better than 25 amps. The bulb lights, and limits the current. There are other ways to to do it, but it isn't pertinent here... there is enough wiring in a corvette to make you want to scream if you are not in that field. You know, sometime even a blown out bulb will cause current, and voltage to go somewhere else to drive you crazy. For instance: the old familiar 84 through 89 I believe, dash cluster. The ground comes loose, and the gauges glow dim, but the high beam indicator, and signal lights come on bright. That is because the dash is trying to find a ground through these lights... Good Luck... 
there is enough wiring in a corvette to make you want to scream if you are not in that field. You know, sometime even a blown out bulb will cause current, and voltage to go somewhere else to drive you crazy. For instance: the old familiar 84 through 89 I believe, dash cluster. The ground comes loose, and the gauges glow dim, but the high beam indicator, and signal lights come on bright. That is because the dash is trying to find a ground through these lights... Good Luck...
Last edited by Steel Breeze; Nov 12, 2006 at 05:29 PM.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 469
Likes: 1
hi jfb,
how are you!
do you think my broken turn signal switch has some thing to do with the screwed up turn signals not working properly?
where can i buy this part from please and what exactly is the particular part called?
thanks
glen
Australia
how are you!
do you think my broken turn signal switch has some thing to do with the screwed up turn signals not working properly?
where can i buy this part from please and what exactly is the particular part called?
thanks
glen
Australia
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
The turn signal lever (stork in Aussyspeak) operates an electrical switch which connects 12v through the flasher to either the left turn signal lamps or the right turn signal lamps. Your switch is mechanically broken and is connecting 12v to both left and right lamps at the same time and the only way to fix it is to replace it. A GM part number won't do you any good because GM only supplies parts for 10 years. I will ask my Corvette mechanic that works for a Chevy dealer if the turn signal assembly is available (sometimes they use the same lever on later cars and those are available). If not, then you should look in the aftermarket parts suppliers like MidAmerica, etc. , or a junk yard. Several advertisers on the forum supply parts from wrecked cars.
BTW, I'm fine!
BTW, I'm fine!