electrical gremlin
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 794
Likes: 19
From: between lost and found
electrical gremlin
new and frustrating "electrical gremlin" has taken over"
So I turn to you my fellow brothers and sisters for guidance, in evicting this gremlin
A fellow class mate brought it to my attention, and I have gone bald (oh wait I already am)
trying to chase it down, even went as far as saying a few choice words at it
When i go to use the turn signals, the reverse lights blink
....
I have cleaned my grounds, added an external ground to the rear tail lights, both of them, took out the tester and have solid contact at connectors and light assembly,
traced wires and found no breaks or shorts,
only thing I haven't done is break down and buy new after market "hecho in china" light assemblies
So I turn to you my fellow brothers and sisters for guidance, in evicting this gremlin
A fellow class mate brought it to my attention, and I have gone bald (oh wait I already am)
trying to chase it down, even went as far as saying a few choice words at it
When i go to use the turn signals, the reverse lights blink
....I have cleaned my grounds, added an external ground to the rear tail lights, both of them, took out the tester and have solid contact at connectors and light assembly,
traced wires and found no breaks or shorts,
only thing I haven't done is break down and buy new after market "hecho in china" light assemblies
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 794
Likes: 19
From: between lost and found
It only happens with the right side turn signal, and only the right side back up light comes on and blinks with the turn signal
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,946
Likes: 118
...it's not your common ground/short/break problem, as you have a connection. A connection is crossed somewhere. Look at the steering column connection to the indicator light loom, the neutral switch and the connections at the affected tail light.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 14,333
Likes: 247
From: Stanley, VA
I don't think that the wiring in the steering column is the problem, the brake lights and turn signal wiring are in the column but there's no tie-in to the back up lights.
My first suspicion is the lighting harness that goes from the left side to the right side. This is the harness that also feeds the tag lights and quite often is butchered by someone adding a trailer light plug.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,626
Likes: 78
From: NE Texas
You checked the grounds and sockets - both with and without bulbs installed? Sometimes the sockets may test good to ground from the rear of the socket but when you check continuity inside the socket there isn't any ground, and electricity will always follow the easiest path to ground (although crossing to the back-up light without a crossed circuit is hard to believe.) If it were mine I would check resistance to ground in the socket and at the back of the socket, try different bulbs (a bad bulb can do funny stuff) and then when I eliminated them, I would start checking up-harness at selected points with a test light to see where all of a sudden that back-up light started showing getting juice. Definitely post what your testing shows, this is an interesting one!
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 794
Likes: 19
From: between lost and found
Gremlin Exterminated
Mikeo0o0o0, Resonator and Houston Dave,
I was able to Exterminate my electrical gremlin,
I took the advice that you gentlemen offered,
and chased the wiring harness upstream.
The issue was tired old factory connectors, not at the connector that comes thru the frame, but the ones that power the lights and cross over from the drivers side to the passenger side.
I went ahead and purchased a four wire pig tail, a couple of two wire pig tails (trailer wiring harnesses,$12.00 total) and re-wired from the frame back from left to right. I went ahead and used the 4 wire connector due to discovering a nick on the cab side of the connector, where it out of the frame .
I soldered my connections and wrapped with heat shrink tubing.
going to see how long my shade tree mechanic skills last
I was able to Exterminate my electrical gremlin,
I took the advice that you gentlemen offered,
and chased the wiring harness upstream.The issue was tired old factory connectors, not at the connector that comes thru the frame, but the ones that power the lights and cross over from the drivers side to the passenger side.
I went ahead and purchased a four wire pig tail, a couple of two wire pig tails (trailer wiring harnesses,$12.00 total) and re-wired from the frame back from left to right. I went ahead and used the 4 wire connector due to discovering a nick on the cab side of the connector, where it out of the frame .
I soldered my connections and wrapped with heat shrink tubing.
going to see how long my shade tree mechanic skills last
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Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 2,769
Likes: 7
From: O-O-O-Oreilly's
Glad to hear you got er fixed!
A couple months after rewiring my truck, the lights began to flicker again. In a desperate rage I stomped on the floor and rapidly toggled every light related switch a few times. The problem has not since returned. My shade tree skills must know no bounds!
A couple months after rewiring my truck, the lights began to flicker again. In a desperate rage I stomped on the floor and rapidly toggled every light related switch a few times. The problem has not since returned. My shade tree skills must know no bounds!
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