Well my Fiero has electrics converted by the previous owner so that the car could be legal here in Europe so the harness doesn't look like anything on the schematics and since I don't want to redo the whole harness I need a little help. I want to return it to stock because I registered the car as a classic but I'm not sure how exactly it should work as it's not really stated in the manuals. It's an 85 notchie. I know all the lights at the back except the reverse ones should be red. And I know that when the parking lights are on they all glow and when you step on the brake they glow brighter. But what about turn signals? And what about when you have a turn signal on and braking at the same time? Hazards?

I'm pretty sure it's standard for american cars and it'll be obvious to you guys but I need a little help here.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

When the brake lights come on, the middle and outer taillights should come on, illuminating the 'bright' filament of the bulbs.

When the parking lights are on, all three sets of taillights should be lit, illuminating the 'dim' filament, and the rear side marker lights should illuminate.

When the directional signal is used, the middle and outer tailights should come on, illuninating the 'bright' filament and flashing.

When the brakes are on with a directional signal being used, the side with the directional signal should flash the 'bright' filament while the opposite side 'bright' filaments should be on and steady (middle and outer positions only).

Note: the front sidemarker lights flash on and off with the front turn signal (because the front turn signal cannot be seen from the side). The rear sidemarker light, however, does NOT flash on and off - it is on steady at all times the parking lights are on.

Hope this helps... good luck.

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Patrick W. Heinske -- LZeitgeist@aol.com

1988 Fiero Formula - Automoda convertible
repainted PPG Ferrari 'Giallo Modena' yellow

[This message has been edited by LZeitgeist (edited 07-22-2012).]

Ok I kind of get it. Thanks for the writeup. So let me get this straight with pictures:

All lights off


Just stop lights


Just right signal


Stop lights and right signal


Just parking lights on


Parking lights and right signal


Parking lights and stop lights


Parking lights and stop lights and right signal


Is that right? Then I guess I will have to redo that harness because currently my stop lights are wired by a single wire from the brake switch to the INNER and middle lights while the turn signals are just the side ones. So I guess I will have to redo also the brake switch wiring because the turn signals have to shut off the "bright" filament of the stop lights periodically.

That looks right.

You could get a stock harness from the Mall. There must be a bunch of them around.

Yeah I probably could but the shipping cost would be too much. So if needed I'll just make my own one. Thanks on the cofirmation of the lights.

Yup, looks like you got it - glad I could help.

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Patrick W. Heinske -- LZeitgeist@aol.com

1988 Fiero Formula - Automoda convertible
repainted PPG Ferrari 'Giallo Modena' yellow

Alright I got the wiring redone but I forgot to ask how the hazards should work. When the brake is pressed the hazards just stay on and don't blink. Is that right? Everything works as it should, the hazards themselves work on their own, turn signals with brake pressed work etc. just as on the photos in my previous post.

What the original owner did - he connected the purple and brown wires in the steering column together so that both hazards and turn signals would work with just the hazard flasher. So I pulled them apart as they should be. Also the brake switch would go with a custom wire straight to the bulbs in the back(just the inner and center lights worked as stoplights and the turn signals/hazards are stand-alone on the outer sides). Luckily he just cut the white wire and left it hanging so that was an easy fix. Seems to me like everything concerning those lights is just as it is on the schematics.

Also what got me wondering, the turn/hazard lights won't turn on immediately. When I flip the turn switch for example left - it will turn on after about half a second(that's the rate at which the lights blink). So it works but starts the cycle with the flasher off instead of immediately turning on the lights as I press the lever. Could this be faulty flashers?

Bumping again - could somebody help me out with these questions:

When I press the brake should the hazards stop flashing?
Hazards/turn signals not turning on immediately after pressing lever(about 0.5 seconds) - is it the flasher?
Where is G400? It's the only ground in the service manual that isn't listed on the picutres. Previous owner connected the tail lights ground to C500.

My 86 Service Manual lists the G400 as the R H saide of engine compartment.

The ground by the battery is the G502, the hinge box ground is the G505,

The G400 is on the outside of the upper frame rail, visible when the wheelwell liner is removed. It is part of the taillight wiring harness.

The flashers should stop flashing when the brakes are applied.

quote Originally posted by olejoedad: The G400 is on the outside of the upper frame rail, visible when the (passenger) wheelwell liner is removed. It is part of the taillight wiring harness. The (Hazard) flashers should stop flashing when the brakes are applied.

Very short delay is normal with thermal flashers and maybe other types.

Find any GM Ford etc flasher at junk yard. Thermal types, Hazard flasher takes more bulb load. Turn flasher will blink fast when use as hazard.

(How the Front park/turn works is in LED marker in lighting section in my cave.)

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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)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave (It's also at the top and bottom of every forum page...)

Thank you very much for the feedback. I don't see anything under the wheelwell so I guess the previous owners f'd something up and that's why my ground is connected to a port in C500 that says "fan". Could I connect this tail harness ground straight to the battery ground or is it not a good idea? Maybe I could just make my own ground connection somewhere on the frame where the original G400 should be?

The ground can go anywhere on the spaceframe.

The ground point should be on the outside of the passenger side UPPER frame rail, just ahead of the plastic and foam body stabilizer piece.

The port on the C500 labeled 'Fan', would that be D-1 or D-2? Unless the PO made wiring changes, neither 'Fan' terminal would provide a ground path.

Edited to change terminal ID's.

[This message has been edited by olejoedad (edited 08-09-2012).]