Tail Light Turn Signal Issues

[bliss]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Here, I did a five minute cut and paste on your car's wiring diagram so you can see what you are dealing with. Since your front flashers work, you know that your signal wand switch, and the flasher unit, are both probably working properly. Your brake lights and signal lights use the same filament. So, from that, you can surmise that:

1) If your brake lights are working normally, then you know the connections from the trailer relay to the rear bulbs are good, including the grounds.

Lights OFF - both brake lights work;

Lights ON - both brake lights don't work (along with the flashers on both sides), although the tail lights do work.

2) If your brake lights are also misbehaving, then it could be either the trailer relay, or the connections between the relay and the bulbs, that includes the grounds.

Therefore, based on response to item 1 - it appears to be the 'trailer relay' or the connection between the relay and the bulbs, including grounds!


You will need to test the voltage, using a VOM or test light, coming out of the trailer relay, on both the yellow and green wires. If those readings are good, then you will test the wires as they go in to the bulb fixture itself (note that it appears the wire colors change). If we have to, we'll also check the wires going in to the trailer relay and maybe use a 12v jumper wire to test the bulb circuit itself. The way you will check the wires is to carefully scrape a little bit of the insulation off of them, using a razor, so that you can see the copper conductor. This is really not hard at all.

If I had to guess, I think it's going to end up being either a bad trailer relay or a bad connection (that includes a ground).

I'll need help from my brother to test the lines, etc.

Trailer Relay - These units are apparently available at auto stores - is there are top choice product or will any one do just fine?

BTW - you sure are being very helpful - thank you, thank you very much!

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by bliss

Trailer Relay - These units are apparently available at auto stores - is there a top choice product or will any one do just fine?

You know, they're probably all made by the same people in China that make everything else in the world. I think they're technically called "Tail Light Converters" and you want a three in to two jobbie. Like this:

Originally Posted by bliss

BTW - you sure are being very helpful - thank you, thank you very much!

RodKnock says I do this once or twice a year to balance off the fact that I provoke and irritate people the rest of the time. His theory is that I provide just enough helpful advice to keep Jamo from booting me out of this place.

[DanEC]

If you have problems locating the trailer relay locally they carry them at Summit and Summit ships quickly.

[patrickt]

I read some of the Amazon reviews of some of the cheaper 3 to 2 converters and some of the guys there complain of the huge voltage drop in them (which makes your lights dim). This one claims to be "heavy duty" and to put out six whole amps of current. Who knows. If Bliss is lucky, it'll just turn out to be a bad connection or almost-broken wire.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Trailer-Heavy-Duty-Taillight-Converter-5423203/dp/B00MJUPD60/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412129305&sr=8-1&keywords=stag+trailer+converter+3+to+2+heavy+dut y"]Amazon.com: RV Trailer Camper Heavy-Duty 3-2 Solid State Taillight Converter 5423203: Automotive@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41F17OWUw8L.@@AMEPARAM@@41F17OWUw8L[/ame]

[bliss]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I read some of the Amazon reviews of some of the cheaper 3 to 2 converters and some of the guys there complain of the huge voltage drop in them (which makes your lights dim). This one claims to be "heavy duty" and to put out six whole amps of current. Who knows. If Bliss is lucky, it'll just turn out to be a bad connection or almost-broken wire.

Amazon.com: RV Trailer Camper Heavy-Duty 3-2 Solid State Taillight Converter 5423203: Automotive

I ordered a cheap one from eBay. At this point, I don't know if my unit is OK or not - need a backup just in case.

Question: Front signal lights - they work fine as noted above, but I somehow blow one while fooling with the wiring - the ERA parts list states it's a 1157, same at the rear lights. Well, it isn't on my Cobra - it's a Lucas 189 which, of course, no one has in this area. Anyway, do you happen to know what the equivalent is or do I need to find this exact product?

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by bliss

I ordered a cheap one from eBay. At this point, I don't know if my unit is OK or not - need a backup just in case.

Question: Front signal lights - they work fine as noted above, but I somehow blow one while fooling with the wiring - the ERA parts list states it's a 1157, same at the rear lights. Well, it isn't on my Cobra - it's a Lucas 189 which, of course, no one has in this area. Anyway, do you happen to know what the equivalent is or do I need to find this exact product?

I think a Lucas 189 is the same as an 1176. At least that's what Don's Light Bulb page says.... dons bulbs - light bulbs If it has the same base size, and the same number of filaments, and kind of looks the same, then I think it'll be ok.