Tail light troubles...

timlooney · 01-14-2008, 04:32 PM

Ok, I know this is a well visited subject but I have a few light issues and an upcoming inspection.

1. There are some mystery wires that come off the left rear tail light. They come off the middle of the light wiring harness. One wire is clear (or white) and the other is clear (or white) with red stripes. They are wrapped with a fabric cover. It has been just cut off about 18" off the harness. Could it be for a rear fog light? If it is, I am gathering that the light assembly is not origininal because the car is a US model. I have looked at the wiring diagrams but I can't figure it out.

2. I have a strange problem with my right rear blinker. The bulb has two functions 1. a running light 2. as a turn signal. It is a single filiment bulb that blinks when turning but also stays on constant when the running lights are on. Here is the trick: it only works as a blinker (with and without the running lights) it does not stay on constant for the running light (which the left side does). I have replaced the tail light assmbly, cleaned the contacts, and replaced the bulb. Any ideas? I replaced the flasher a while back, it could be that, but the front right still flashes.

Thanks, for the input.

carnutzzz · 01-15-2008, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timlooney

Ok, I know this is a well visited subject but I have a few light issues and an upcoming inspection.

1. There are some mystery wires that come off the left rear tail light. They come off the middle of the light wiring harness. One wire is clear (or white) and the other is clear (or white) with red stripes. They are wrapped with a fabric cover. It has been just cut off about 18" off the harness. Could it be for a rear fog light? If it is, I am gathering that the light assembly is not origininal because the car is a US model. I have looked at the wiring diagrams but I can't figure it out.

2. I have a strange problem with my right rear blinker. The bulb has two functions 1. a running light 2. as a turn signal. It is a single filiment bulb that blinks when turning but also stays on constant when the running lights are on. Here is the trick: it only works as a blinker (with and without the running lights) it does not stay on constant for the running light (which the left side does). I have replaced the tail light assmbly, cleaned the contacts, and replaced the bulb. Any ideas? I replaced the flasher a while back, it could be that, but the front right still flashes.

Thanks, for the input.

I'm going from memory here so bear with me. You're sure that the bulb is supposed to be single filament? Did you compare with the left side bulb?

Sorry if this too rudimentary- but it's often the simplest of things with these taillights (corrosion, burned-out bulb, incorrect bulb).

Ron.G · 01-15-2008, 06:21 AM

Bump for a good question.
I have the same question reguarding the extra two wires on the rear driver side tail light. Mine is a euro car so I think it is for the rear fog but I do not get any voltage at these wires.
When does the fog light become energized? when the head lights are on?
I get nothing in any position of the headlight switch.

Other than that everything works fine. The car never came with front fog lights and there is no extra switch that I'm aware of.

timlooney · 01-15-2008, 06:29 AM

Good question, I checked the contacts and it was a single contact base in the taillight assembly. I have been through the ringer with this one and it has eluded me but there may be some fundamental thing that I missed. Thanks.

Ron.G · 01-15-2008, 06:57 AM

I'm pretty sure it is supposed to be a dual filament.

timlooney · 01-15-2008, 07:19 AM

Unfortunately it is only a single filament which leads to my confusion. The bulb number is 7506 and the circuit board base only has one contact on the end. Which means that the problem could be with the running/headlight wiring and far removed from the actual bulbs.

3.2 CAB · 01-15-2008, 07:27 AM

As far as the rear fog light is concerned, generally the car will have a little two hole mount with pre-threaded captive nuts, some people have had their car for years till they see the two little holes. This is located on the rear valance or roll pan, whatever you want to call it, where the rear fog light base would be mounted. To turn them on, the same switch that operates the front driving/fog lights is used, except you have to pull out on the switch, while you already know that to turn the front lights on, you turn the switch. This switch is a dual action switch, it can be pulled to actuate, or it can be turned to actuate and if like most, the head/parking lights need to be on to power any of the fog/driving lights. Also most dual filament bulbs have offset, holder pins or lugs, while most all of the single filaments have the pins that are on the same location plane. This is due to the bulb with dual filaments has different types of actual filaments inside, and they need to be lined up to the correct power source button, within the bulb socket. All of the single filament bulbs that I have seen in the taillights on the Pcar, are for parking lights and reverse... EXCEPT, if the car has the EURO type taillights, then it would have single filament bulbs, except for the brake/tail light bulbs, because on the Euro spec cars, the bulbs only do one function, whether it is for parking lights, or turn signal lights. I saw that you "replaced the tail light assembly" do you have the Euro type or U.S. type of tail/brake lights? I have the Euro spec type lights, they are clear, red, and amber. I hope some of this rambling helps. Good luck!! Tony.

3.2 CAB · 01-15-2008, 07:29 AM

A follow-up, being I just read your new postings. Do you think that you might have the marker light and turn signal bulbs crisscrossed?

3.2 CAB · 01-15-2008, 07:34 AM

Have you actually tested the contacts in the bulb holders for voltage with a meter or test light? Be sure to check with lights on and with them off, also with turn signal on and off as well, to make sure you are getting voltage to the sockets.

timlooney · 01-15-2008, 07:35 AM

Hi Tony, thanks for the input, I will check to see if they are crossed but it still operates as a turn signal when it is supposed to which leads me to believe that they are in the right spots. The assembly that I replaced is the same as the one that was in there although I do have the white/amber/red lens covers on it. Based on earlier research I don't believe that the car is a Euro but I can revisit that again.

Thanks, Tim

3.2 CAB · 01-15-2008, 07:46 AM

If it is setup like how mine is, the marker/park light will stay on and not flash, the turn signal light will only come on with the use of the turn signals, the tail/brake lights, will also come on along with the parking lights, but will also go to the added filament for the brake lights.