No headlights/turn signal, new Switch/harness
 

So just got inside after running out of time workin on the damn thing, and here's where I'm at.

After shorting out the lightswitch prior to parking it 10 years ago (aftermarket alarm system was removed when I got to it this past year, which is what we think caused the problem) my father ran a wire spliced from a trailer hitch attachment he put in to a plug that went into the cigaretter lighter plug. This plug powered the tail-lights as well as my entire dash.

So, I bought an electrical harness and light switch from someone on these forums, and after pulling everything apart and replacing these switches I realize that my turn signals no longer work. After tinkering with it for a while I realize the headlights will no longer turn on, but they pop up when i turn the individual switch for them (not the normal headlight switch).

The fuses on the inside of the car all seem to be ok...
Any ideas/suggestions?

Nothin? I'm out of ideas here. I've already read the faq, and fsm and can't figure out what this is.

Update: After swapping everything around, I got the headlight switch to pop up and turn on, but my tail lights are no longer working as well as the turn signals not working... Ugh...

Check the fuses.

already did

Also, the hi-beam switch on the turn signal works fine as well.

Ok, just found a spare turn signal switch laying around, tried it and lo and behold it worked.

However, my illumination and tail lights still won't come up. The continuity tester showed the circuit isn't complete, but like I said, I've replaced the entire switch and harness, so the problem has got to be somewhere else along the line, right? I'm gonna remove the trailer electrical harness from the rear as soon as it stops raining, but could the problem be coming from the Dimmer Relay at the front of the car? Does anyone know how to check it?

Also, I have several lightswitch clusters. The only one that works even partially is the one that was originally in car. All the others make a steady buzzing noise when I plug them in, and nothing operates.

the harness needs to match the series turn signal switch

are these switches new? Most junkyard headlight switches are just that... junk

checked relays?

Yah, I realized that when I compared the two harnesses. I ended up rewiring the turn signal plug and base of the entire harness to match my old one. Actually had to take one of the wires from the old one, as the new one was missing.

The switch and harness was bought from what I assume to be a part out car on these forums.

As for checking the relays, I'm not quite sure how to do that short of taking it to a dealer.

Go to the top of the 2nd gen page and find the link to download the FSM for your year car. In there you will find how to check the relays.
-a

Yah, I already have the fsm downloaded, couldn't find it in the body electrical section, at least not listed as dimmer relay. Found the diagram of all the relays, so I know where everything is.

The harnesses are not cross compatible. Are you sure you matched all 3 plugs exactly the same and that you picked the right series plugs to match.

Yes, I made a spreadsheet of the color codes in each position on each switch and pulled and repositioned all the wires on the new to match the old one. All the wires appeared to be the same gauge, and now the turn signals work ok, but I'm still stuck with my original symptoms (probably from the original light cluster), but also several switches that only make a BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZT noise (including the new one) and don't operate.

If the switch itself is buzzing when plugged in (and not a relay in the car) then you have something miss-wired.

More than likely if it is the switch buzzing, the headlight relay internal to the switch is the part that is buzzing. This means that you probably have 12 volts on the output of the switch for the headlights (which runs through turn signal switch on the Red/white wire).

Or you have a blown Diode D4 in the switch and or blown headlight fuse.

Ok, so after the 5th new headlight switch (I'm positive that it works), I'm still having the same problem. What relay are you talking about and how do I fix it, or is that something that I have to replace?

I'm really lost here...

please read my last post

Yes, I did... I think you may have been right about the wiring being wrong. After checking the fsm again, and methodically making sure everything went where it's supposed to I'm at this point (which is farther than yesterday, thank god...)

The old switch - Only the headlights work, the tail lights and illumination don't

The other two new light switches - the tail lights and illumination work, the headlights pop up but don't light up. (no longer buzz)

I already know someone's gonna say check the fuses again (which I have, about several million times at this point), or buy a new light switch, but please understand... I'm already 1000 dollars over my budget, and on week three without a car... I don't feel like buying another damn switch just to have it burn out on me, when I'm not certain that it's the switch to begin with.... Is there any way to repair one of the light switches myself?

Here's how I have the harness wired looking at the plug from the back of it starting top right moving left. I marked where the row ends and where the space for the clip is.

Main Connector
Pin # - Prim/Sec color
1 - Black/Blue
2 - Orange/Yellow
3 - Black/Red
4 - Orange/Orange
5 - Orange/Yellow
6 - Blue/Orange
7 - Orange/Green
8 - Green/Lt Green
9 - Black/Black
*Next Row
10 - x
11 - Black/Green
12 - Orange/White
13 - White/Green
*Space for Clip
14 - Orange/Blue
15 - Orange/Black
16 - Green/Red
17 - Green/White

Light Plug
1 - x
2 - Orange/White
3 - x
*Space for Clip
4 - Orange/Blue
5 - Orange/Yellow
6 - x
*Next Row
7 - Black/Red
8 - Black/Blue
9 - Blue/Orange
10 - Orange/Orange
11 - Black/Black
12 - Orange/Black
13 - White/Green
14 - Orange/Green

Turn Sig Plug
1 - Green/White
2 - Black/Red
*Space for Clip
3 - Orange/White
4 - Orange/Green
*Next Row
5 - x
6 - Black/Black
7 - Green/Yellow
8 - Green/Red
9 - Black/Green
10 - Orange/Yellow

Ooooook then...

Put in one of the new plugs, and found that if I try to turn on the highbeams while the lightswitch is in the on position, the high beams will come on and stay... If I click again they go to normal and stay on. In addition, the tail lights light up as well. However, the only interior part that illuminates is the stereo, and only half of that... Also, my turn signals once again no longer work...