Three Issues after Accident / Repair
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,094
Likes: 68
From: Providence RI
Three Issues after Accident / Repair
I kissed the guard rail 2 months ago with my 91 6 speed. Spun around and whacked the rear bumper also. Was cut off going 65 and fishtailed 180* 3 times...never came to a complete stop and kept on driving the car. Insurance covered it, repair bill came to 7200.
Car was just repaired (no rush, not daily driver) and now i see a few minor issues I need to correct.
First off, the back up lights and rear side marker lights do not light up. All 4 bulbs are brand new. There is not 12 volts at the lamps when the light are on and car is in reverse. All tail lights, brake lights, and signals work. All fuses are good. It is a 6 speed car so I know there is a switch for reverse in there somewhere. This may be related to my other problems.
Second, when i turn the parking lights on, the headlight buckets pop up but do not illuminate the headlights themselves. I used to be able to turn the parking lights on, use the fog lights, and the buckets would not pop open until the switch was turned to the headlight position.
Third, after the headlight buckets pop open, the passenger side motor keeps running for around 10 seconds, both when opened and shut. You can see the manual **** spinning when the hood is up.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Mike
Car was just repaired (no rush, not daily driver) and now i see a few minor issues I need to correct.
First off, the back up lights and rear side marker lights do not light up. All 4 bulbs are brand new. There is not 12 volts at the lamps when the light are on and car is in reverse. All tail lights, brake lights, and signals work. All fuses are good. It is a 6 speed car so I know there is a switch for reverse in there somewhere. This may be related to my other problems.
Second, when i turn the parking lights on, the headlight buckets pop up but do not illuminate the headlights themselves. I used to be able to turn the parking lights on, use the fog lights, and the buckets would not pop open until the switch was turned to the headlight position.
Third, after the headlight buckets pop open, the passenger side motor keeps running for around 10 seconds, both when opened and shut. You can see the manual **** spinning when the hood is up.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Mike
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,094
Likes: 68
From: Providence RI
Just an update, I am going to jumper the wires on the reverse switch, it is on the drivers side of the transmission near the bell housing. I read it was a common issue and I'll figure that one out,
Did some research on the lights issues, and they did not act up before the accident, so I am hesitant about replacing the switch on the console or if my bushings are shot. Seemed to be a common problem but no one really said what fixed it (parking light switch position and buckets opening.)
Just wanted an update after an instense search on here.
Thanks,
Mike
Did some research on the lights issues, and they did not act up before the accident, so I am hesitant about replacing the switch on the console or if my bushings are shot. Seemed to be a common problem but no one really said what fixed it (parking light switch position and buckets opening.)
Just wanted an update after an instense search on here.
Thanks,
Mike
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,392
Likes: 218
From: Merritt Island, FL
1. Backup light switch or a short in the wiring to/from switch
2. Headlight switch itself, most likely.
3. Headlight motor bushings worn out (most likely) or gear teeth stripped
My best guesses.
2. Headlight switch itself, most likely.
3. Headlight motor bushings worn out (most likely) or gear teeth stripped
My best guesses.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 142
From: Green Valley Arizona
What repairs were done? Was the rear bumper cover removed/replaced? Any front bumper cover repair?
I suggest checking for any wiring repair that was done.
The reverse switch in the trans is a pain to remove. I have found that it does not need to be replaced...just cleaned a bit. All it is is a steel ball that makes the electrical contact and just moving the ball so that a different area is used is all it really takes. Not always, but in the three that I have done/been involved with.
Good luck.
I suggest checking for any wiring repair that was done.
The reverse switch in the trans is a pain to remove. I have found that it does not need to be replaced...just cleaned a bit. All it is is a steel ball that makes the electrical contact and just moving the ball so that a different area is used is all it really takes. Not always, but in the three that I have done/been involved with.
Good luck.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 14,680
Likes: 752
From: NEwhere Ohio
sounds like either a ground got whacked in the accident..
-or-
a ground got hooked up wrong (ie. didnt make contact) when they repaired it.
I couldnt tell you where it is, but thats what it sounds like.
-or-
a ground got hooked up wrong (ie. didnt make contact) when they repaired it.
I couldnt tell you where it is, but thats what it sounds like.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,094
Likes: 68
From: Providence RI
The only wiring repairs was the replacement of the front left turn signal socket.
The fog log light and housing was broken, so they were replaced, and the bumper cover was replaced on the front and rear. The absorbers were fine, i did not hit hard at all, even though I hit both front and rear...
I too am thinking of a ground. There is no reason a switch would go bad after an accident. I still think the reverse lights could be that switch in the transmission though, No wiring was damaged at all and I do not think they would need to touch any of the grounds at the back of the car.
Mike
The fog log light and housing was broken, so they were replaced, and the bumper cover was replaced on the front and rear. The absorbers were fine, i did not hit hard at all, even though I hit both front and rear...
I too am thinking of a ground. There is no reason a switch would go bad after an accident. I still think the reverse lights could be that switch in the transmission though, No wiring was damaged at all and I do not think they would need to touch any of the grounds at the back of the car.
Mike
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,094
Likes: 68
From: Providence RI
The body shop did make sure all of the grouds/wiring were ok for the rear backup lights. I do not think they had to disconnect any grounds in order to replace the rear bumper cover. The absorber was not removed and was not damaged.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 7
From: Metairie Louisiana
I had my vette in the shop several months ago for a front bumper repair. They painted the front bumper and changed out some of the front lights. When I got it back the rear tail lights were not working correctly. I fooled with it for days using my FSM focusing mainly on all the lights and the wiring that was repaired. I swore that it must have been something that the shop had done since everything was working before I brought it to them.
Well it turned out that a main wiring harness that passes behind the engine was not secured properly and was vibrating against some metal. It was a coincidence that it finally wore through the harness and shorted out one of the light wires at the same time it was in the shop. Lesson learned. Next time I will trace out all wires in the entire circuit and inspect for damage.
Well it turned out that a main wiring harness that passes behind the engine was not secured properly and was vibrating against some metal. It was a coincidence that it finally wore through the harness and shorted out one of the light wires at the same time it was in the shop. Lesson learned. Next time I will trace out all wires in the entire circuit and inspect for damage.
Last edited by rickneworleansla; Nov 22, 2011 at 10:05 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,094
Likes: 68
From: Providence RI
OK Update,
On the rear side marker lights...the red lights are lit when the lights or parking lights are turned on. The only ones that do not work are the Back-Up lights/white side marker lights.
Does this still seem like a ground issue or a reverse switch??
Still no luck on the headlights.
On the rear side marker lights...the red lights are lit when the lights or parking lights are turned on. The only ones that do not work are the Back-Up lights/white side marker lights.
Does this still seem like a ground issue or a reverse switch??
Still no luck on the headlights.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
For the reverse lights, just pull the connector off the reverse switch at the transmission. Jumper the two connector terminals. If the reverse lights illuminate, it's the switch. If they don't, it's in the wiring.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,700
Likes: 1,667
From: moraga ca
I'm not sure if I missed this, but if you have a manual tranny, the reverse switch is in the tailshaft (unless that has changed in the later models. Pull the plug off the switch, hook up an ohmmeter onto the switch terminals and see if they close when in reverse. If you have an auto tranny, the switch is in the console. You can take the cover off and figure out what switch is closed in reverse (again, this may have changed in the later years). Do the same with that switch. I'm assuming the back up lights have the same fuse as the taillamps (I haven't checked). Good luck. Willie
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
The reverse switch for all ZF6 transmissions (which is what the OP has in his '91) is at the top-left (driver's side) of the transmission. Removing the clutch slave cylinder (two easy to remove nuts secure it in place) makes access much easier.