Electrical GURUS.........HELP

[islandflyer]

Hello everyone,
I installed a new head unit a few days ago. The install went without any trouble. Then the other night I notice that my left side parking lights don't work, front or back, but the right side does. The flashers, brake, reverse, and turn signals work fine, or shall we say come on when they should. Only the parking lights. I backed trace every step I can imagine, even took out the radio, just in case I pulled a wire or something. Nothing seems to work " and NO the bulbs are not burned". All I can think of is that there is a ground loose somewhere..GRRRRRRRRRRR..
anyway any input or help will be greatly appreciated...

[911mot]

I would check the side light fuses. Does your dash illumination still work?

[autobonrun]

First, did you disconnect your battery when you performed electrical work? If not, I would start by checking the power supply as 911mot suggested rather than a ground wire. I don't think the ground is the problem because the power for the front parking lights and rear lights are common while the ground wires for them are separate. The probability of knocking two independent ground wires loose at the same time is remote; although possible if they share a common pathway. I only have wiring diagrams for the SC, not the Carrera. Assuming they are the same (and they may not be), Fuse 4 supplies power to left side lights. Turn your parking lights on, then using a voltmeter, check for 12vdc to the top of fuse 4. If you have power there, check for power at the bottom of the fuse. I like to check for power rather than trying to visually inspect a fuse unless it is obviously blown. Some fuses will be bad and not totally burned in half such that it is visible to the naked eye. If there's no power through the fuse, there is a loose connection or the fuse is bad. Verify power for the Carrera's circuit comes from fuse 4, then run these checks and repost what you found. Your next step will depend on what you find from these checks.

[Eagledriver]

Jose,

I had this same problem a couple of years ago on my 86. I decided that instead of trying to find the fault I would just jumper the left side to the right side so that when the right came on the left would light as well. This worked fine as a permanent fix. Only loss is you can't turn on one side when parked with the turn signal on like the original set-up. No great loss in my opinion. Just use a small piece of wire to jumper between the two circuit on the fuse box. Someone should be able to tell you the pin numbers or you can find in in the Haynes manual.

-Andy

[bell]

check your fuses......there is an illumination wire behind the radio, if it isn't being used and isn't capped off then it could short easily when you slide in the radio.
did you use a multimeter or test light to verify your connections?
if there is a blown fuse double check that any unused wires behind the radio are capped.

[islandflyer]

to autobonrun, and 911mot. Thanks for your imput, my interior lights still work, and I disconnected the battery when the install was done. I will try the fuses tomorow and check the lines. Everything in the back of the radio is caped, as far as I can see. I did not pull any wires, unless something came loose. Eagledriver, that sounds like a good idea. I'll do that if everything else fail. Besides I have all winter to work on that. Anyway, I'll try more trouble shooting tomorow, and I'll report. onece agian thanks for you help..............

[911mot]

Just to clarify - I meant to check dashboard (clocks) illumination works as these are usually tied in with a side light circuit (left or right). Interior light will be on a different circuit.

[islandflyer]

Sorry about that, I wanted to say, the dashboard lights also work!