This '88GT is a revival, after many years stored in the sun. I replace plugs/wires/cap/rotor, and refreshed all grounds in the engine compartment - adding one 4-gauge wire from engine to body. It's running, passed smog, and is doing well.
EXCEPT: This evening I turned on the headlights for the first time since passing smog. The assemblies popped up properly and the headlights came ON and steady. However, the left parking light ALSO came on and steady, and the dashboard's right turn signal ALSO came on and steady.
When I flick the turn signal L and R, the exteriors (front and rear) blink on each side, but there is no longer a corresponding blink on the dashboard.
Just to complicate diagnosis, the RIGHT parking light is dimmer than the LEFT. I have not yet checked to see if both have the proper bulb...
I found a ground just outboard of each light assembly, and "refreshed" it. No change.
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)
That's what I was afraid of. The Cave has an excellent diagnostic guide. When working on old cars this sort of frustration is not unusual - it's always the mystery ground that's most elusive.
One solution that's worked for me in the past was to stop searching. I just went through the car bumper to bumper, refreshing everything. I did all visible grounds, removed/replaced every fuse and every bulb everywhere, and disconnected and reconnected every connection on every cable. When finished, I crossed my fingers and tested.
For the past ~45 years I've added something called Cramolin to appropriate contacts. I'm still on a bottle from the 1970s, but today it's called something else. I've never had a treated connection fail.
The PASSENGER SIDE parking light / turn signal is intermittent. I cleaned the socket contacts and tried another bulb, with no improvement. Wouldn't it be great if the whole problem were right there?
What's the forum's standard procedure for repairing that circuit? Access is limited with the headlight assembly in place -- should I remove it?
Originally posted by notaguru: The PASSENGER SIDE parking light / turn signal is intermittent. I cleaned the socket contacts and tried another bulb, with no improvement. Wouldn't it be great if the whole problem were right there?
What's the forum's standard procedure for repairing that circuit? Access is limited with the headlight assembly in place -- should I remove it?
You still have ground issue w/ park/turn bulb/socket. many GM sockets easy to fix but I don't have info front. I looked at front but not see how they go together.
You can fix G101 G102 and remove etc turn bulb by just lifting up HL bulb.
Originally posted by theogre: You still have ground issue w/ park/turn bulb/socket. many GM sockets easy to fix but I don't have info front. I looked at front but not see how they go together. You can fix G101 G102 and remove etc turn bulb by just lifting up HL bulb.
You're right. I did the ground connection on the pass side sheet metal, but that did not help. It appears that there's an open in the wiring itself. I am thinking of running a NEW ground wire to the turn light and the side light.
Originally posted by notaguru: You're right. I did the ground connection on the pass side sheet metal, but that did not help. It appears that there's an open in the wiring itself. I am thinking of running a NEW ground wire to the turn light and the side light.
Could be socket is bad... if so need a new socket.
Pierce ground with a pin near to socket and ground the pin.
if needed, use brake grease to seal the hole after.
Could be socket is bad... if so need a new socket.
Pierce ground with a pin near to socket and ground the pin.
if needed, use brake grease to seal the hole after.
Agreed, back socket connections, could be all it is, easily available at any parts store, they have been the same for all GM vehicles for decades. could also be a bad/wrong bulb, I have found over the years if you are replacing one, replace them all with the same bulb, if not after you replace just one the rest start blowing, something about the resistance changing when you replace just one in the circuit.
I hate electrical problems, I would rather pound my balls flat with a sledge hammer than chase down an electrical problem.
Steve
------------------ Technology is great when it works, and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't
