Control panel Wiring

[Al Olmo]

After replacing the dash and the control panel, I found that my left rear red light and front banana marker are permanently on, a little history:the control panel is not the same one I had on before, but I compered every wire and connection to JJ's wiring diagram and every thing is ok. Dose any body out there have any idea what could be causing this lights to act this way as? they go on as soon as I connect the battery?

[bq97]

Make sure your turn signal lever is not in the down, left turn, position.

hth
Brian

[Al Olmo]

Brian the problem is not the signal lights but the position lights. I wonder if some ground wire out of place could be the culprit?

[bq97]

Does the side marker come on as well?

[oldopelguy]

Originally Posted by Al Olmo Brian the problem is not the signal lights but the position lights. I wonder if some ground wire out of place could be the culprit?

You do know that the parking lights on each side of the car are supposed to come on when the ignition is off and the turn signal lever is not in the center position. Not the turn signals, the parking lights. He suggested that becouse some people don't realize this parking light feature is built into the car and they mistake it as a problem.

[bq97]

On my GT, a 73 all 4 lights come on when the TS lever up or down. I have noticed on some GTs when the TS lever is in the up or down position only the outside tail light, front marker and rear side marker come on.

Brian

[Bo Mows]

I just rewired my '69 wire by wire with JJ's wiring diagram (aka the holy grail). and it has a specific note about the wiring just for this case. If you don't have on of these diagram's, you need to, or just give up checking anything electrical on you GT. The European spec's call for the marker lights to come on if the turn signal is in the up or down position with the key off because of the parking situation over there. (well that's what i read anyway).... The diagram show you how to diable this feature. I can't get to my diagram right now but if anyone has one handy maybe they can tell you what to disconnect. I believe this happens because your marker lights are wired inside one of the fuse panel plugs. (I can't remember what color).
HTH

Bo

[Al Olmo]

Originally Posted by bq97 Does the side marker come on as well?

Yes, and I made sure that the blinker lever is in the center position, and the rear and side marker lights and front banana light are on in the left side (driver side) of the car.

[Al Olmo]

I'm thinking maybe can this be a bad relay?

[namba209]

Al, I just checked my DESTEC schematic and the left parking lites, all of them, get power from the side of the fuse panel that only has 3 fuses and the fuse that powers the lites is the one next to the 4 studs, or number F3 on the schematic. One side of the fuse has 3 Gray/Black wires from the Euro Park Switch (turn signal handle), one from the headlight relay, and the other from the Park Lite Switch on the vertical console of the instrument panel. The other two Gray/Black wires on the other side of the fuse go the the front and rear lites. If the relay is functional all the other lites will come on if it is energized. To see where the power is coming from, you can pull the red wire on the relay, the black connector from the steering column or the red connector from the instrument panel to see if the lites go out. If they stay on after you've pulled the connectors or red wire, one at a time, you've got another source of power to the lites that shouldn't be there. HTH.

[bq97]

I'm willing to bet the parking light switch on the control panel is bad.

Brian

[Al Olmo]

Ron, the only way to make those lights to turn off is by pulling the red wire on the headlamp relay. All other lights work when power up, does that means that the relay is bad? I'm completely lost.

[Al Olmo]

Originally Posted by bq97 I'm willing to bet the parking light switch on the control panel is bad. Brian

Brian it might very well be, but I tell you I put another one in, and still the same problem.

[Al Olmo]

I'm thinking of another clue that I can give you to see if you might be able to solve this puzzle, the instrument panel lights are also always power on, I can control them with the dimmer switch, but there are always on just like the left side parking lights.

[namba209]

Al, this is getting very confusing to say the least. The instrument lites get power from the power side of fuse F-5, the same terminal the ignition switch gets its power. I don't know what the internal workings are of the headlite relay are, if it's just a buss bar that makes all the lite contacts or individual relay coils for each circuit. BTW, if, when you pulled the red wire on the relay did the instruments lites go out also? If they did, you may have a buss bar hanging up in the relay, if that's how it works, or two malfunctioning relay coils in the relay. Without knowing the internals of the relay, right now it's just a guess.

[alolmo]

Thanks Ron for taking the time, I'm just to tired to keep traying, I'll go at it againg sunday, I have another relay I'll replace it and see. Thanks again.

[Al Olmo]

Brian, Bo, Stephen and Ron, I'm happy to report that after changing the head lamp relay the problems have been solve it took me 3 full days of work, all your invaluable help and JJ's wiring diagram.
THANK YOU.

[hallgeir]

Al, I think Ron is right. Most likely the headlight relay. Headlight relay, park light switch and turn signal handle are all connected to that same fuse. You have tried another park light switch, so it`s unlikely it`s that. Are you sure your turn signal switch works correctly?

[hallgeir]

You beat me. Good to hear all works fine.

[Al Olmo]

Hallgeir, I tell you I'm so very happy, I was beginning to think I was up to something bigger than me, I've done so much work to this car and usually come on top, but this problem was a real puzzle.

[hallgeir]

I am so pleased to hear that. I guess the problem with the instr. light that we discussed a couple of weeks ago, also is gone now.

[Al Olmo]

Yes, everything works now as it shold, I'll never understand why the two problems from the same source materialized at defferent times, because the control panel lights problem, that one I've dealing with for over 3 weeks, the park lights issue is only 3 days old. But the relay fixed both

[namba209]

Al, it was more than likely the relay going south in stages. If not fixed, another part of the lite circuit would have gone flakey, either the other side parking lites or the headlites. Sure glad it's fixed. I was beginning to scratch my head and other places.

[Al Olmo]

I hear ya, I was begining to think I would need professional help ether for my head or for the car. But the satisfaction at the end is indescribable.

[hallgeir]

As long as we got The Classic Opel Community, help will always be available.
Merry Christmas.