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Electrical 88 mustang all lights work except REAR signals

  • Thread starter Thread starter plantmeister
  • Start date Start date Mar 17, 2018
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    1988 tailights turn signals wiring issues

plantmeister

Active Member
Dec 17, 2016
87
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28
FL
Mar 17, 2018
#1
  • Mar 17, 2018
  • #1
Hi all,

My car was recently taken completely apart by a body shop, and as it's been put back together, we've run into a bewildering problem.

All front lamp lights work, including hazards, turn signals, everything. On the rear, I've got running lights, brake lights and reverse. However, when we turn on the hazards or turn signals, the relay works and the bulbs up front flash. No turn signals or hazards work at the back.

Where do I even begin tracing the problem? Do I look for a wire, or at a multifunction switch? Have no clue.
Any help is appreciated! It's the last thing holding up my car being finished. Thanks!
 

jrichker

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Mar 17, 2018
#2
  • Mar 17, 2018
  • #2
plantmeister said:
Hi all,

My car was recently taken completely apart by a body shop, and as it's been put back together, we've run into a bewildering problem.

All front lamp lights work, including hazards, turn signals, everything. On the rear, I've got running lights, brake lights and reverse. However, when we turn on the hazards or turn signals, the relay works and the bulbs up front flash. No turn signals or hazards work at the back.

Where do I even begin tracing the problem? Do I look for a wire, or at a multifunction switch? Have no clue.
Any help is appreciated! It's the last thing holding up my car being finished. Thanks!
Click to expand...
What year car? The wiring changed several times between 1979 and 1995.
 

plantmeister

Active Member
Dec 17, 2016
87
6
28
FL
Mar 17, 2018
#3
  • Mar 17, 2018
  • #3
It's an 88 hatchback
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
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Mar 18, 2018
#4
  • Mar 18, 2018
  • #4
Have you started with the simple solution and check the bulbs and check for power at the sockets?
 

plantmeister

Active Member
Dec 17, 2016
87
6
28
FL
Mar 18, 2018
#5
  • Mar 18, 2018
  • #5
Hi, yes we checked the power to the turn signal sockets and have nothing, and the bulbs are fine
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,255
17,939
224
Massachusetts
Mar 18, 2018
#6
  • Mar 18, 2018
  • #6
Turn signals run down the left side of the car. Off the turn signal switch, both the rear parking lights, license plate lights and turn signals run through c216 located in the drivers kick panel area. It's a gray, 8-pin connector. You'll want to prove here to see if you have power going rearward to the turn signals
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,255
17,939
224
Massachusetts
Mar 18, 2018
#7
  • Mar 18, 2018
  • #7
Here are the various wiring diagrams for the rear lighting elements. If you zoom in you should see wire colors

If you can't see them let me know
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,255
17,939
224
Massachusetts
Mar 18, 2018
#8
  • Mar 18, 2018
  • #8
Finally, it appears the front and rear turn signals each come from the turn signal stalk on different wires. You'll want to check these as well. Power to the turn signals is fed from the hazard switch


 

plantmeister

Active Member
Dec 17, 2016
87
6
28
FL
Mar 18, 2018
#9
  • Mar 18, 2018
  • #9
Great, thank you so much! We are going to start with the kick panel wires and work our way back. These diagrams are perfect. We'll et you know the outcome!
 

plantmeister

Active Member
Dec 17, 2016
87
6
28
FL
Mar 18, 2018
#10
  • Mar 18, 2018
  • #10
After looking at the harness diagrams, we realized we were testing the wrong ones. I wiggled the right rear socket and it came on! So I knew there was power back there. We switched bulbs and still only the right rear was working, no left rear. We checked the left rear socket and discovered a broken ground inside the socket. We checked the ground going to it and everything was good, so it has to be the sockets that are bad or going bad. Earlier when he checked the power to the socket, he must not have been pushing the pin on the tester far down enough.
I'll try to get ahold of a new set of sockets tomorrow and wire them in for a final check!
 

plantmeister

Active Member
Dec 17, 2016
87
6
28
FL
Mar 19, 2018
#11
  • Mar 19, 2018
  • #11
Anybody have any idea of where to buy them?
 

plantmeister

Active Member
Dec 17, 2016
87
6
28
FL
Mar 19, 2018
#12
  • Mar 19, 2018
  • #12
I've been to every parts store in town and all over online and can't find this thing anywhere
 

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Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,255
17,939
224
Massachusetts
Mar 19, 2018
#13
  • Mar 19, 2018
  • #13
Can you clean that up with some abrasive on the contacts?
 

plantmeister

Active Member
Dec 17, 2016
87
6
28
FL
Mar 19, 2018
#14
  • Mar 19, 2018
  • #14
Mustang5L5 said:
Can you clean that up with some abrasive on the contacts?
Click to expand...
I'll try that when I get home and see if that helps!
 
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