C6 Tech/Performance LS2, LS3, LS7, LS9 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Help with an electrical issue

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 23, 2014 | 11:46 PM
  #1  
BruiSSer's Avatar
BruiSSer
Thread Starter
8th Gear
 
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Default Help with an electrical issue

Hey guys, so I found the C6 M6 I wanted and the headlight assembly has a weird hole in the bottom of it that has a clear bulb sticking through it facing up, that illuminates with the headlights like a parking light. I've seen headlight assemblies for sale like this on ebay and don't really understand it. I'm guessing it's not oem. Anyone know what that is for or why they're like that?

Anyway, the parking lights (the orange ones) won't turn on at all, and neither will the fog lights. I can hear the actuator activating the fog lights, but nothing turns on. Everything out back works, it's just the front. The dealer said they will look at it and find the problem, but I really don't have much faith in them and was hoping to get some insight from you folks so I can maybe steer them in the right direction. Obviously check simple things first like if they're connected, fuses, etc. Just curious on your thoughts and if it had anything to do with that weird headlight assembly with the light in the bottom of it.

Any help much appreciated!

Last edited by BruiSSer; Oct 24, 2014 at 03:35 AM.
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2014 | 06:07 AM
  #2  
Flame Red's Avatar
Flame Red
Le Mans Master
25 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,513
Likes: 1,301
From: Windermere FL
Default

My opinion is that one of the previous owner botched up trying to mod the lights.

My opinion is that if you can get the price of the car reduced by the cost to put it back to stock, consider it otherwise walk. The headlights are very expensive, even if you buy them from forum member RLSebring. The harness may also be messed up, so I would include the cost of replacement harnesses. I would ask for a couple maybe 3 grand off the price of the car and if you are handy you can probably replace all of that for $1500 (used) yourself. There are many threads on the "easier" way to replace the headlights.

But examine the car very carefully for what else they screwed up!

If you already bought the car, well lesson learned and welcome to the Corvette club. Contact RLSebring and he should be able to set you up with everything you need to put it back the way it should be.

Last edited by Flame Red; Oct 24, 2014 at 06:11 AM.
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2014 | 06:38 AM
  #3  
BruiSSer's Avatar
BruiSSer
Thread Starter
8th Gear
 
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Default

Thanks. Already bought it with the condition that this would be fixed as part of the deal. The price was reduced quite a bit as well to reflect the problem. We shall see if they follow through. Here's the headlights that are on the car (different color) with the extra "marker light" as they call it. Advertised as "European style" whatever that is.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/05-13-Corvette-C6-Headlight-Assemblies-CARLISLE-BLUE-Pair-NEW-EUROPEAN-/111358452325?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item19ed7b2265&vxp=mtr
I should mention that the orange lights work perfect when locking the doors, using the blinker, etc. Hazards work fine. And like I said, I can hear the actuator turning on with the fog lights also. I'm wondering if it might be a ground issue?? The fog light indicator light turn on in the dash.

Last edited by BruiSSer; Oct 24, 2014 at 06:44 AM.
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2014 | 07:39 AM
  #4  
MARSC6's Avatar
MARSC6
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,414
Likes: 198
From: Wilkes-Barre Pa
Default

Those are the headlights required for the European market.
Reply
Old Oct 27, 2014 | 02:24 PM
  #5  
cclive's Avatar
cclive
Team Owner
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 461
From: Southern Utah
Default

Originally Posted by MARSC6
Those are the headlights required for the European market.
European lights have a "town bulb" in them that illuminates the light so that others can see you without putting out light for you to see out. In european cities, the thinking is that visibility is the reason for headlights.
Reply
Old Oct 27, 2014 | 02:44 PM
  #6  
BruiSSer's Avatar
BruiSSer
Thread Starter
8th Gear
 
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Default

Thanks guys. It's all fixed. Something wasn't plugged in and a dies was out. Back to normal now.
Reply
Old Oct 27, 2014 | 04:26 PM
  #7  
timd38's Avatar
timd38
Race Director
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Default

Originally Posted by cclive
European lights have a "town bulb" in them that illuminates the light so that others can see you without putting out light for you to see out. In european cities, the thinking is that visibility is the reason for headlights.
So, they are like a daytime running light only more complex?
Reply
Old Oct 27, 2014 | 05:31 PM
  #8  
cclive's Avatar
cclive
Team Owner
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 461
From: Southern Utah
Default

Originally Posted by timd38
So, they are like a daytime running light only more complex?
Not more complex...they look much like a D-cell flashlight bulb and are only meant to provide visibility to the front of the car. The US has always had very different headlight standards from Europe. We have caught up quite a bit as our headlights 20 years ago were considered simply inadequate in Europe. Here's a pic of a 250SL Mercedes with European and US lights:






Here's a pic of a Porsche headlight unit. The lense at the top is the high beam, the blue bulb in the middle in the big reflector is the low beam and then off to the right of the blue bulb is the "city" bulb. Apparently many of these are now LEDs:


Last edited by cclive; Oct 27, 2014 at 05:42 PM.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-5

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Oct 28, 2014 | 06:11 PM
  #9  
irok's Avatar
irok
Safety Car
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,807
Likes: 508
From: Oshawa, Ontario
Default GM Euro spec headlamp

[QUOTE=BruiSSer;1588132303]Thanks guys. It's all fixed. Something wasn't plugged in and a dies was out. Back to normal now.[ works fine on our cars as long as you get the extra wiring harness that goes with it
Reply
Old Nov 28, 2014 | 11:54 PM
  #10  
Tombovette's Avatar
Tombovette
Instructor
 
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 199
Likes: 14
From: Monroe Ohio
Default

Originally Posted by cclive
Not more complex...they look much like a D-cell flashlight bulb and are only meant to provide visibility to the front of the car. The US has always had very different headlight standards from Europe. We have caught up quite a bit as our headlights 20 years ago were considered simply inadequate in Europe. Here's a pic of a 250SL Mercedes with European and US lights:






Here's a pic of a Porsche headlight unit. The lense at the top is the high beam, the blue bulb in the middle in the big reflector is the low beam and then off to the right of the blue bulb is the "city" bulb. Apparently many of these are now LEDs:

Reply
Old Nov 29, 2014 | 03:19 PM
  #11  
AORoads's Avatar
AORoads
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Default

I completely forgot about the Euro, around-city bulbs---I think the '66 Beetle used to have a small bulb in the headlight that was the parking or around town light. IIRC, Euro cars used to also have a single tail and sidemarker light that you could leave on, either right or left side, if parked on the street. Long ago, in Paris, many cars parked halfway up on the sidewalk and left the outside lights on.

Just as a caution, OP, I'd watch carefully to see that your battery level doesn't go down in case there is some other kind of wiring short. Just bein' a little over-cautious, y'know....
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Help with an electrical issue





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:19 AM.

story-0
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE