Simple wiring question. Hopefully.

[lyrikz]

71 GMC. Front headlights are all wired and good to go. I wired the drivers side marker bulb on the fender in, but none of the other marker lights are wired yet. I hit the left turn signal and the left marker bulb turns on but doesnt blink.

Im assuming its because the rest of wiring is not intact??? The wires are there, just cut. So no ground on the other bulbs..

Im finishing the wiring tonight but i was just getting anxious and hoping it wasnt a different issue.

[partsman3]

Sounds like you're on the right track. With out the other bulbs in the circut there isn't enough resistanse to make the flasher operate.

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by partsman3

Sounds like you're on the right track. With out the other bulbs in the circut there isn't enough resistanse to make the flasher operate.

Ok. Nothing else is even wired.

Tonight i will get it all wired up and should be good to go. IM SO CLOSE. 12 more days and im at my first car show. This week should be my first drive over a block.

Im towing it to work, replacing shocks/some fluids and im good to go.. Interior wont be100% but i dont care.. That can wait.

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by partsman3

Sounds like you're on the right track. With out the other bulbs in the circut there isn't enough resistanse to make the flasher operate.

Ran into an issue.


Currently the rear brake lights are not wired or plugged in. The headlights are all wired and the front signals and front side markers are wired.

Here is my issue. I turn the lights on and all the lights come on. I turn the left turn signal and you can hear the relay and the left signal on the side of the car and on the front grill flash like they should. There is no light that flashes on the cluster where the indicator is though.

Now, you turn the right signal on and nothing happens. The lights dont flash, they dont go off, no click. BUT the signal indicator on the dash goes on and doesnt signal. Just stays lit.

I took the right side marker bulb and grounded it to a solid ground and nothing. So i no its not a ground. I have a new headlight switch in also if that matters. Any tips where to start or what to do??? I also switched relays from top to bottom and no change at all.

[lyrikz]

well, this is weird. I went out after typing all that out and the right signal now clicks and blinks the front grill light, but the side light still doesnt blink...

Then, after a few minutes the right one stopped working again. Any ideas on what the hell???

Im also Debating wiring that right side marker right off that wiring for the front grill light.. Thoughts?

Any ideas why it would just stop working. you turn the signal on and it just lights and no click or flash. wth.

[Longhorn Man]

i'm willing to bet if you hooked up the rear lights it'll flash properly.
Your side marker lights are being wired up for steady burn. One wire to the parking light circuit, and one to ground. To make it flash with the turn signals, you need to run one wire to the parking light circuit, and the other wire to the turn signal circuit.

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

i'm willing to bet if you hooked up the rear lights it'll flash properly.
Your side marker lights are being wired up for steady burn. One wire to the parking light circuit, and one to ground. To make it flash with the turn signals, you need to run one wire to the parking light circuit, and the other wire to the turn signal circuit.

Figured out the issue. To dispel some myths. You do NOT need the rear lights hooked up for the fronts to work.

My issue was a ground. The front grill lights are grounded off the metal shell themself. So i checked to make sure it was tight to the front core support and it was. Then i grabbed the front grill light and moved it and the lights came on perfect. So i cleaned both connectors and now we have signals. The right signal i wired in with the front grill light. So, YAAAY.. Also, the left signal on the cluster wasnt working. Fixed that also.

I then plugged in the harness for the rear lights and made sure all that works. So i have about 11 more days until this needs to be done.

thanks LHM. Good to see your still around. going to update my build thread now.

Thanks for the help.

[Longhorn Man]

i wonder if you have an electronic flasher.
The old steel flashers required the amp draw from at least 2 1157 bulbs in order to work. This way they turn signal would stay on and alert the driver there is a problem.

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

i wonder if you have an electronic flasher.
The old steel flashers required the amp draw from at least 2 1157 bulbs in order to work. This way they turn signal would stay on and alert the driver there is a problem.

That makes sense. They were not working correctly until the fronts were all wired in. But i still dont have the rears.

Its weird how they use the body to ground the lights on that thing. Now i know why the GMC housings for the front signals are metal.