parking light works only with hood open? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

matthufham · 10-19-2007, 12:15 PM

that's my problem i discovered today. this concerns my front driver side parking lamp.

the turn signal works whenever, the parking light works with the hood open, and doesn't work with the hood fully shut.

the turn signal indicator lamp on the dash stays lit up when the light doesn't work (hood closed), and goes away when the light works (hood open)

the indicator lamp on the dash sometimes flickers when driving. i'm totally lost here.

it's not stock, my lights are behind the grille. i rewired the pigtail yesterday because i thought the parking light was fused to the turn signal wire somehow, but that isn't the problem since i still have this problem.

everything worked fine til a few months ago

67ChevyRedneck · 10-19-2007, 12:52 PM

Ground wire broke or needs to be cleaned?

piecesparts · 10-19-2007, 01:43 PM

Ground wire issues, that is why the turn indicator stays lit on the dash. When you close the hood, you are undoubtedly creating a change in something's position that opens the circuit.

grayw0lf · 10-19-2007, 02:29 PM

Do a search on here. Someone else had a similar "hood on/hood off" problem here about 6 months ago.

matthufham · 10-19-2007, 05:27 PM

dont ask me how because i dont know but i fixed it

i moved the wire bundle near the hood hinge and everything works fine now... it's all sealed up so i have no idea why that made a difference and the hinge never touched the bundle...

thanks for the suggestions

68K20 x Drill · 10-19-2007, 11:04 PM

If the hood is down. you should be driving.
If the hood is up, you should be parked.
Seems simple enough

**Boog** · 10-20-2007, 06:29 AM

Something tells me you will be experiencing this problem again...

matthufham · 10-20-2007, 12:33 PM

hey boog. ur right, it comes on whenever now. random on random off. i dont know why.

Longhorn321 · 10-20-2007, 04:05 PM

You have a loose connection or loose ground somewhere. If it changed when you moved the harness then that is where you should start. Usually, a wire does not just break in the middle so look for connectors that are close to where you moved the harness. You could also check your voltage/ground at the light to see which one you are missing. If it is a bad ground, you will have voltage on one of the pins when you put your black lead on the neg. post of the battery and the red lead on the pin.

10-19-2007, 12:15 PM	#1
matthufham Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Carl Junction, Missouri Posts: 2,061	parking light works only with hood open? that's my problem i discovered today. this concerns my front driver side parking lamp. the turn signal works whenever, the parking light works with the hood open, and doesn't work with the hood fully shut. the turn signal indicator lamp on the dash stays lit up when the light doesn't work (hood closed), and goes away when the light works (hood open) the indicator lamp on the dash sometimes flickers when driving. i'm totally lost here. it's not stock, my lights are behind the grille. i rewired the pigtail yesterday because i thought the parking light was fused to the turn signal wire somehow, but that isn't the problem since i still have this problem. everything worked fine til a few months ago Attached Images

10-19-2007, 12:52 PM	#2
67ChevyRedneck Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 23,090	Re: parking light works only with hood open? Ground wire broke or needs to be cleaned? __________________ Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride American Born, Country by the Grace of God 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications!

10-19-2007, 01:43 PM	#3
piecesparts Parts and more parts Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lebo, Kansas (middle of nowhere Posts: 6,821	Re: parking light works only with hood open? Ground wire issues, that is why the turn indicator stays lit on the dash. When you close the hood, you are undoubtedly creating a change in something's position that opens the circuit.

10-19-2007, 02:29 PM	#4
grayw0lf Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Clanton, AL Posts: 1,253	Re: parking light works only with hood open? Do a search on here. Someone else had a similar "hood on/hood off" problem here about 6 months ago. __________________ 85' CUCV M1009!!! The newest addition! 6.2diesel, Th400, NP208, & only 36k miles! 70' C-10 LWB Fleetside - Looking good these days! 05' Dodge Neon 88' Winner Escape Sport 1750 - 4.3v6 94' Seadoo SP 84' Honda TRX200, bare nekkid. Just a frame & tires. Always looking for another project or any good deal!

10-19-2007, 05:27 PM	#5
matthufham Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Carl Junction, Missouri Posts: 2,061	Re: parking light works only with hood open? dont ask me how because i dont know but i fixed it i moved the wire bundle near the hood hinge and everything works fine now... it's all sealed up so i have no idea why that made a difference and the hinge never touched the bundle... thanks for the suggestions

10-19-2007, 11:04 PM	#6
68K20 x Drill Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Freedom CA Posts: 488	Re: parking light works only with hood open? If the hood is down. you should be driving. If the hood is up, you should be parked. Seems simple enough __________________ 68 Chevrolet k20 Longbed 350 SM465/205, Dana 44, 14bolt, Power steering, Power Disk Brakes, 35" BFGs. 84 Chevrolet Suburban K20 6.2 Banks turbo TH400/NP208 Now with G80 68 GMC C20 Parts? Truck And a few cars

10-20-2007, 06:29 AM	#7
Boog laying low Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Searcy, Ark. USA Posts: 13,535	Re: parking light works only with hood open? Something tells me you will be experiencing this problem again... __________________ Boog 69 Chevy stepside, 358/T350, 4.11 posi, 4.5/4 drop, rallys, poboy driver primer is finer 91 Chevy sportside, Tahoe, Yukon & GMC Crewcab All GM..'nuff said. I stand for the flag and kneel at the cross

10-20-2007, 12:33 PM	#8
matthufham Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Carl Junction, Missouri Posts: 2,061	Re: parking light works only with hood open? hey boog. ur right, it comes on whenever now. random on random off. i dont know why.

10-20-2007, 04:05 PM	#9
Longhorn321 Size Matters Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lyman, SC Posts: 9,189	Re: parking light works only with hood open? You have a loose connection or loose ground somewhere. If it changed when you moved the harness then that is where you should start. Usually, a wire does not just break in the middle so look for connectors that are close to where you moved the harness. You could also check your voltage/ground at the light to see which one you are missing. If it is a bad ground, you will have voltage on one of the pins when you put your black lead on the neg. post of the battery and the red lead on the pin. __________________ "Reading the owners manual is only for quitters." Jason Harper, Bloomberg News. ...WOOOO HOOOO!!!!



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