Front Drivers Side Turn Signal Electrical Gremlin

[E30Hooligan]

OK. So here's the situation. My Front Drivers Side Turn Signal doesn't illuminate while my headlights are on. However when I turn my Blinker on it starts flashing. So obviously it's not the bulb. What do you guys think? Whats the first place to start looking? - Thanks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il1nn-4ww5c

Short Video I made of the problem

[101]

Does the parking lamp work without the headlamps being on?

If not - the first thing to check is the bulb. It's a dual filament bulb. It appears that the low wattage filament (for the parking lamps) is burned out, while the high wattage filament (for the turn signal) is OK.

Otherwise it could be a loose connection at the bulb socket or at the connector on the back of the lamp housing assembly (both very common).



Do

[E30Hooligan]

The Parking Lamp Does not work even when the headlamps aren't on

The whole Turn Signal assembly has been replaced along with the bulb.

should I start tracing the wires and look for some obvious short?

[101]

yep. Break out the voltmeter and see if you're getting:

a) 12V between the grey/white or the grey/yellow wire and chassis ground (parking light)
b) 12V between the blue/red or the blue/black wire and chassis ground when the turn signal is flashing
c) continuity between the brown wire and chassis ground

If all these check out the wiring is fine and the problem may be at the pins in the connector where it meets the light housing.

If you had a hard short, it would be blowing fuses.

Is you're side marker light working?