Serious wiring trouble
05-18-2010, 08:11 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: PA
Posts: 10
Serious wiring trouble
MY '88 GT completely toasted the wiring harness behind the headlight/fog light switch. Because of this my parking lights don't work, and when my headlights are on my rear lights don't work. When the headlights are on the rear light functions properly when the brake is applied, but once the brake is released the lights turn off completely. I searched the problem here on the forums and concluded that I had to buy a new switch and harness, so I purchased them from latemodelrestoration.com.
When I removed the switch from the dash I noticed a total mess of custom wiring that the previous owner did...exposed wiring, joints held together by tape, cut wires, disconnected harnesses, etc. I tried to make sense of it all and connected the new harness and switch. The problem, however, was not corrected. The lights worked perfectly before last weekend (I bought the car in February and have driven it every day and night since then) but now, even with a new harness and switch, they do not work. My headlights turn on, turn signals work, brake lights work...just no parking lights in the front or rear.
I have a very limited knowledge of basic wiring, but not very much at all. I do not have any tools to check circuits, nor do I know how to even begin looking for bad relays, circuits, etc. How can I go about fixing this problem as inexpensively as possible...or do I have to suck it up and save my pennies and take it to a professional? Where can I get a wiring diagram so that I can at least get a visual idea about what I'm supposed to see in the mess of wires under my dash?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
When I removed the switch from the dash I noticed a total mess of custom wiring that the previous owner did...exposed wiring, joints held together by tape, cut wires, disconnected harnesses, etc. I tried to make sense of it all and connected the new harness and switch. The problem, however, was not corrected. The lights worked perfectly before last weekend (I bought the car in February and have driven it every day and night since then) but now, even with a new harness and switch, they do not work. My headlights turn on, turn signals work, brake lights work...just no parking lights in the front or rear.
I have a very limited knowledge of basic wiring, but not very much at all. I do not have any tools to check circuits, nor do I know how to even begin looking for bad relays, circuits, etc. How can I go about fixing this problem as inexpensively as possible...or do I have to suck it up and save my pennies and take it to a professional? Where can I get a wiring diagram so that I can at least get a visual idea about what I'm supposed to see in the mess of wires under my dash?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
05-18-2010, 09:34 AM
#2
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 188
Hate to say it, but might be time for a pro. You have tried the logical thing and that didn't fix it. Sounds like the previous owner did a number on it. The only other thing I might suggest is to take the dash out and see what you are working with, hit up a junkyard and look for another fox to pillage, and with the dash completely out, you could take your time and fix what's wrong the right way.
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