No tail lamp/marker lamp right side

[JAR0023]

86 Carrera

This one seems kind of odd to me, but I'm new to the 911. All lights were working less than 400 miles ago. Pulled in last night and left the lights on (car stopped) and noticed no tail lamp or marker lamp on the right side. PUlled everything out today, cleaned and checked housings/bulbs.

Bulbs good, housings good.
Brake lights work.
Back up lights work.
Turn signals work.
With the car off, move turn signal to right and tail lamp/marker lamp work as parking lamps.

The only time the right side tail lamp/marker lamp does not work is when I simply pull the headlamp switch out. I'm about to dive into wiring schematics in the Bentley but hoped to get some feedback here. I think I'm looking at two areas. The switch itself and the connector in the right rear of the engine bay.

Would the light switch energize the left and right tail lamp circuits independently?

The connector in the right rear. How does it come apart? Just pull?

A search has me thinking the running light/brake light/turn signal circuits are all separate at this connector. Need to dive into the Bentley to confirm.

Thanks in advance,
-J

[Joe Bob]

Mine ended up being a bad ground in the tail light assembly AND the bulb falling out of the side marker assembly.

[JAR0023]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

Mine ended up being a bad ground in the tail light assembly AND the bulb falling out of the side marker assembly.

That's where I went fisrt but the bulbs/grounds are good. The individual lights work when 'Park Lights' are on. They work as turn signals. Right side doesn't work when switch pulled out.

Separate grounds?? I call myself checking this.

Thanks
-J

[Joe Bob]

Well, I have an 83 SC.....so the fuses maybe different in a Carrera.

Check inside the fuse cover and see if the running lights and/or brake lights have a seperate fuse. Spin in it, check the fuse, and lastly check the output with a meter.

[uwanna]

Had precisely the same problem yesterday. Scratched my head for a bit, then rotated the fuse for the right side lamps and VOILA! Problem gone!!

You asked:Would the light switch energize the left and right tail lamp circuits independently?

The answer is yes, they go through different fuses.
You probably didn't notice, but your right front running lamps were probably not lit either.

Got to LOVE those crappy German fuses!! LOL

[JAR0023]

Was checking fuses while you guys were typing. Bentley says right side park lamps have their own fuse. Cleaned it. Nada. Swapped it. Nada.

Will have to go back and check front running lights.

Remember the lights work if I move t/s stalk up to activate park lights.

It's pulling the light switch where they don't work.

Wiring schematics are mostly Greek to me but it looks to me like the right rear energizes separately. I really don't want to have to go in behind the dash, but I thinly I'm headed there.

J

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[Joe Bob]

Put a meter on the output side of the fuse tab, pull the light switch and then the parking light see if that tab has power. You may be getting juice from another circuit.

[JAR0023]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

Put a meter on the output side of the fuse tab, pull the light switch and then the parking light see if that tab has power. You may be getting juice from another circuit.

Great tip! Will try that when I get done with errands.


J


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[JAR0023]

Confirmed front not working either along with rear lamps with headlamp switch.

Tested that circuit with multi-meter. Pull out light switch halfway or full out and no voltage at the fuse.

Pull the turn signal stalk up and 12 volts along with lit lamps on right side.

Seems to be at the switch.

Also noted that my fogs come on when I pull out the headlamp switch half way. I think I remember this from DRL discussions. Probably put that back to oem.

Didn't really want to dive into the headlamp switch but that's where I'm heading. At least now my tail lamp assemblies are clean and resealed. Along with cleaning all the dirt out of there.

Thanks again,
-J

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

Mine ended up being a bad ground in the tail light assembly AND the bulb falling out of the side marker assembly.

Thanks God the banana is back.

[Joe Bob]

So to confirm that the suspect problem IS the light switch....did you check INcoming power to that fuse?

[JAR0023]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

So to confirm that the suspect problem IS the light switch....did you check INcoming power to that fuse?

Yes. No power on either side of the fuse with the light switch pulled.

Looked at it briefly. Found a kill switch I wasn't told about. Also, have an alarm to remove. I'll be out of town for work all this next week, so I'll save this for next weekend when I have more time.

-J