TheSamba.com :: View topic - Wiring Troubles

Sun Dec 06, 2009 7:50 pm

Hey all -

I've trying to finish up the wiring for my baja, but running into an issue. I picked up a 3-2 taillight converter in order to run my taillights and turn signals on the same light as described by 57baja with this graphic:

I've got everything wired up correctly (as I see it) but this is what is happening:

Turn lights on, running (brake) lights come on as expected.
With turn signal off, brake lights do not light up when brakes applied
Turn signal on, flasher does not work (either right or left, front or rear)
With signal on, brake light works for opposite site - so if left turn signal is on, right side brake light will light up when brakes applied)

I've got a brand new Painless toggle switch, and a Painless harness with flashers installed. My tail lights are the standard buggy lights, two wire and self grounding. Can anyone shed some light on what might be happening?

Thanks!

: Greg

Sun Dec 06, 2009 9:48 pm

Are the polarity of the diodes correct?

Are your self grounded tail lamp assemblies really grounded?.. (mounted on fiberglass?)

Next thing would be suspicious of is your 3/2 converter...... They are notoriously bad, I smoked 2 before I found one that sorta worked..... I abandon the converters for a more positive system.....

This is much more effective....

Relays...

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/VIA-80237/?image=large
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/VIA-80238/?image=large

Or this is even better.....

http://signaldynamics.com/products/Modules/pentastar.asp

Dale

Sun Dec 06, 2009 10:55 pm

Thanks, Dale. All of my mounts are metal tabs, however, I'll go through tomorrow and ensure all mounts are clean to allow for a strong ground.

: Greg

Sun Dec 06, 2009 11:08 pm

I'd be happy to walk you through this. PM me and it might be a bit quicker. Here goes, though:

First of all, are ALL the circuits wired EXACTLY like the diagram, or are you using a combination of components?

Do you have the two-way wiring diodes installed?

The way I would begin approaching this is to break it into smaller pieces. First disconnect the wiring at the hazard switch to get that out of the system. Test it. If it works, it's in your hazard circuit.

When you say, "Turn lights on, running (brake) lights come on as expected", do you mean that everything works properly with your lights on? Or do you mean that the brake lights come on with the headlights on? If so, you have problems with your wiring at the lights themselves.

If you study the diagram, you'll see that the brake lights come straight from the switch, and go through the 3-2 adapter. They shouldn't be affected at all. If you're using a 3-2 adapter, you can bypass it temporarily and hook your brake circuit directly to the lights. The turns won't work that way, but you can see if your lights are wired properly and see if there is an internal problem with the 3-2 adapter.

It's pretty simple if you just start breaking it down into smaller circuits. Once you get one working, add the next, and then the next, and then the next until you find which circuit is causing the problem.

Let me know, bro.

Sun Dec 06, 2009 11:15 pm

Thanks 57baja - Great suggestions. I actually left out the hazard wiring, as well as the diodes as I read those were only necessary if you were towing. Please correct me if I'm misunderstood.

I'll check grounds and circumvent the converter to test normal brake light functionality. To clarify my statement, when I turn on the headlights the tail lights come on as expected, they just don't work properly when I apply the brakes.

I'll break it down into small chunks tomorrow evening after work and begin testing. I'll get back with my results.

Thanks!

: Greg

Sun Dec 06, 2009 11:25 pm

Thew diodes are actually in there to prevent back feed from the hazard circuit, as well as anything else that you might tie into, such as for towing.

When you say, "when I turn on the headlights the tail lights come on as expected, they just don't work properly when I apply the brakes", it sounds as if you might have something reversed at the lights, or a poor ground. The tail lights may actually be trying to find ground through the brake light filament. If this is the case, you'll usually see both filaments glowing (faintly) inside the bulb with the taillights on.

Brake it down to smaller pieces, take two aspirin, and call me in the morning.

LOL.

Sun Jan 03, 2010 5:42 pm

So I finally got a chance to continue troubleshooting this wiring issue.

Removed the rear turn wires to get the 3/2 converter out of the picture and same results, so I don't believe the issue to be with the converter. Just for kicks I wired the two front turn indicator lights together, and put on the turn signal indicator on the speedo. I ran a power wire to the tab directly below the indicator on the speedo. Turn on signals, and flasher now works but both lights would flash (I'm assuming because they were wired together). Ok, odd, reverted back to how I had it before.

I then picked up to new indicator lights to use for turn signal indicators (instead of speedo), wired the indicators for left/right to them and grounded the lights. Same effect though, opposite side lights up but just barely, and no flashing any more. I used a multimeter to check the turn signal toggle: key off, 0v at turn signal power. Key on, 12v at turn signal B+ and 0v at right and left turn toggle tabs (good!). Turn left turn on, and still have 12v at toggle power and at left turn tab, however, the right turn tab has 3v when it should be zero.

Does this mean I'm getting feedback in the system and the power is moving over to the non-enabled turn side (in this case, the right side)? I was also thinking of picking up an electronic flasher to see if it might be that I'm not generating enough power to trigger the flasher unit.

Hopefully this makes sense - a bit tough to explain this in words...

: Greg

Wed Jan 06, 2010 7:20 pm

Well, I went and picked up an electronic flasher unit today. Popped it in and I now have turn signals all around!