rear taillights

Gotta love that wiring . . .
jimmycakes401

Re: rear taillights

Post by jimmycakes401 »

Here's what I'm stuck with at the moment. This light is on regardless if the car is on or the key is out of the ignition... suddenly started happening. I can't figure it out. The side marker on this side is on too. It's the drivers side.

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124JOE
Posts: 3141
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:11 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 fiat spider sport 1800
Location: SO. WI

Re: rear taillights

Post by 124JOE »

get out the fuse diagam -tells you what the fuse feeds
go thru them one by one
check the switch "it could be wired wrong if someone had it out"

if its getting power from the correct circut"thats good"
then it should be the switch wiring

does the pass side work with the switch?
does it shut off with the key?
when you do everything correct people arent sure youve done anything at all (futurama)
ul1joe@yahoo.com 124joe@gmail.com
jimmycakes401

Re: rear taillights

Post by jimmycakes401 »

It doesn't shut off with key. I can even take the key out and it stays on. I think the passenger is shot right now.
AZ79

Re: rear taillights

Post by AZ79 »

I don't think any power is supposed to be heading back to the taillights at all when the key is off... Not even the brake or reverse lights. Somehow you've got something crossed. Take a test light and measure all the contact places on your tail light boards with the key off. If anything is hot, trace it.

Good luck.
spider2081
Patron 2024
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Posts: 3015
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:45 pm
Your car is a: 1981 Spider 2000
Location: Wallingford,CT

Re: rear taillights

Post by spider2081 »

I think you have the headlight switch in the middle position. Your parking lights do not go on through the ignition switch. Parking lights are fed from the "hot all the time circuit". So all you side lights and both front and rear parking lights should be lit with the head light switch in the center or parking light position. I think the lights being lit is probably correct and the ones not lit with them is the problem.
jimmycakes401

Re: rear taillights

Post by jimmycakes401 »

I flipped the headlights in every position. Maybe my switch went bad...
spider2081
Patron 2024
Patron 2024
Posts: 3015
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:45 pm
Your car is a: 1981 Spider 2000
Location: Wallingford,CT

Re: rear taillights

Post by spider2081 »

The white/black wire on the headlight switch is the output of the switch for the parking lights. That wire then feeds fuses G & H. H is left hand parking lights and G is right hand parking lights.

Hope this helps
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124JOE
Posts: 3141
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:11 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 fiat spider sport 1800
Location: SO. WI

Re: rear taillights

Post by 124JOE »

as this problem just poped up
im thinking it was somthing you did lately
was it the radio?
or any other wiring?
when you do everything correct people arent sure youve done anything at all (futurama)
ul1joe@yahoo.com 124joe@gmail.com
jimmycakes401

Re: rear taillights

Post by jimmycakes401 »

I'm not sure how, but I fixed it. I flicked my light switch a few times, unhooked the seatbelt wires, took out the lightbulb then put it all back. When I hooked the battery back up the light was off and turned on and off like it is supposed to. Now my only issue is that the lights and signal lights aren't working on the passenger side. The brake light works on that side though. And I tested all the bulbs. Hmmm... Some connections must still be dirty. I assume. I'll need to test each pin. Not sure how, but I'll figure it out. All my sockets and boards look REALLY clean. I don't think this car ever left a garage other than it's daily driving.
User avatar
124JOE
Posts: 3141
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:11 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 fiat spider sport 1800
Location: SO. WI

Re: rear taillights

Post by 124JOE »

pull the bulbs and test for power with the hazzards on
i had a contact problem,it was the ground

then put the bulb back in and give it ground
when you do everything correct people arent sure youve done anything at all (futurama)
ul1joe@yahoo.com 124joe@gmail.com
jimmycakes401

Re: rear taillights

Post by jimmycakes401 »

I'll try that now. I was fiddling with it for over an hour with my father in law. Cleaning contacts, looking at diagrams.

It seems like I'm getting voltage to all three points of the taillight bulb! Why would that be!? AHHHH!!!! It's the only bulb not working.

Also, when I put my blinkers on, they work fine, but on the dash both blinkers blink like the hazards are on. That usually means a bulbs out right? My front drivers side blinker is burnt out. Need to get a bulb.
jimmycakes401

Re: rear taillights

Post by jimmycakes401 »

All my signals work though. Just not the tail light on the passenger side.... or side marker.
jimmycakes401

Re: rear taillights

Post by jimmycakes401 »

My hazards just stopped working...
jimmycakes401

Re: rear taillights

Post by jimmycakes401 »

All is good in the world!! Turns out it was some fuses not seated properly. I cleaned and lubed them all the day. I just needed to tighten them up and everything started working!!
User avatar
124JOE
Posts: 3141
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:11 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 fiat spider sport 1800
Location: SO. WI

Re: rear taillights

Post by 124JOE »

thats great!
the turn signal indicator in the dash
is a one bulb system
so they both flash no matter witch function you are using
"left,right or hazards"
when you do everything correct people arent sure youve done anything at all (futurama)
ul1joe@yahoo.com 124joe@gmail.com
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