Finally got my SportWagon back after 3 days in the tranny shop... On to the next issue... Lights... This is kind of wierd but I have some ideas. The headlights and high beams work normal. None of the side markers turn on, period. When I turn on the turn signals (left or right) the lower lights in the bumper will flash appropriately as well as the tail lights. The brake lights also work. However, when the lights are on the tail lights do not work (except when the signal is on) as well as the lower bumper lights. Is it wrong of me to think that when the lights are just ON that the side markers, lower bumper lights and the tail lights all run off the same circut? I know when the signals are on that the lights get power from a different source so that would explain why they work, same goes for the break lights... So am I on the right path? Is there a single wire that powers all the dead lights that may be cut? I've found a few cut wires under the dash (the orange wire to the brake light switch was one, I fixed that and the brake lights work now). IF so, which wire would be most suspect and where can I find it??? Btw, this is a 68 SportWagon 400
Dan, I had a similar problem on my Scout, mine was a bit funnier, when I turn on the turn signal with the lights on my dash lights flashed. Problem was that the previous owner had install the wrong bulbs in the sockets, single elements in the dual positions and vice versa, also wrong wattage. I bought a full set of new turn, tail, courtesy bulbs and everything worked perfect. Worth a check. Len
most cars that have side marker lights on the front fender area have a bulb socket that is not directly grounded. on that side marker light, one wire runs to your blinker wire on that side of the car. the other wire runs to the parking light wire. when wired like this on a properly working system, the side marker light will flash alternately of the front bumper signal light with the headlights ON, and simultaniously with the signal light when the head lights OFF. this way a single filiment bulb can be used as both a night-time side marker light and any-time blinker bulb. this system can cause a sort of electrical feedback and make a problem change to a little different problem when you have the headlights on. more later ..... i need to think about where your real trouble is hiding....
