Sidemarker issues?

[m3f_xMPowerx_205221a8e8]

So the other night I noticed that my left blinker light was a bit lit up. I got out of my car and my left sidemarker was half way lit and the right one wasnt at all (like normal). Is it tell me that the bulb is almost out? My blinkers also flash much faster than usual acting as if a bulb is out..



So any thoughts or experiences on this?

[m3f_mtpktz._05241f1a20]

Why not try and swap the right and left bulbs?

[m3f_fiveightan_7e37700daf]

Bulbs can't be "halfway" lit...either the filament is intact (bulb works), or it isn't (bulb doesn't work). Your right side bulb is out, sounds like the left one may be loose in the marker housing. It's blinking fast because the right one is out.


-Replace the right bulb

-Check the position of the left one and secure it properly if it's not.

[m3f_xMPowerx_205221a8e8]

Then why does the right one still blink when I turn on its blinker?

[m3f_PurduinaM3_5769f9ad51]

Check all your other bulbs; the front corners and rears. If its blinking fast, one of the bulbs has to be bad.


Just put your flashers on and walk around the car.

[m3f_fiveightan_7e37700daf]

Then why does the right one still blink when I turn on its blinker?

Ohhhh...so this is happening without the turn signal stalk actuated? I got you now boss. Misunderstood before :thumbsup2:


Are we talking with the headlights on, or with the headlight switch in the OFF position? As i'm reading it now, this is what's happening:

-Left side marker is illuminated all the time

-Right side marker is NOT illuminated all the time.


So, confirmatory questions:

-What position is the headlight switch in when you see this, and does the switch position change the operation of the markers (if so, how)? ..BTW, I can't remember what normal operation is, so i'll take a look on my car.


-Do both (or neither) of the markers blink when actuated by the turn signal stalk or the hazard switch? (forget about the speed right now, just see whether or not they blink).


-Are any other bulbs out? (take a look like Bobby recommended).


This could be a simple anomaly due to a bulb being out, or it could be an electrical issue. Take a look at it and report back with some more info. :thumbsup2:

[m3f_DEVIUS1_edb3d151be]

OP. are you saying that the side marker is "glowing" when the other lamps are out(dark)?



Did someone wire them to alternate blinks with the corners?

[m3f_xMPowerx_205221a8e8]

Ohhhh...so this is happening without the turn signal stalk actuated? I got you now boss. Misunderstood before :thumbsup2:



Are we talking with the headlights on, or with the headlight switch in the OFF position? As i'm reading it now, this is what's happening:

-Left side marker is illuminated all the time

-Right side marker is NOT illuminated all the time.



So, confirmatory questions:

-What position is the headlight switch in when you see this, and does the switch position change the operation of the markers (if so, how)? ..BTW, I can't remember what normal operation is, so i'll take a look on my car.



-Do both (or neither) of the markers blink when actuated by the turn signal stalk or the hazard switch? (forget about the speed right now, just see whether or not they blink).



-Are any other bulbs out? (take a look like Bobby recommended).





This could be a simple anomaly due to a bulb being out, or it could be an electrical issue. Take a look at it and report back with some more info. :thumbsup2:



When my headlights and everything is on only the left marker is lit and the right is not. But, both the markers still actuate when I turn on the turn signal. No bulbs are out either. And it shouldnt be anything with the wiring because it really just started happening about 5 days ago. I havent changed anything on meh car.



OP. are you saying that the side marker is "glowing" when the other lamps are out(dark)?



Did someone wire them to alternate blinks with the corners?



Nope

[m3f_fitchesbas_a4754265ce]

sidemarkers in your terminology are the front corner lights?

[m3f_fiveightan_7e37700daf]

When my headlights and everything is on only the left marker is lit and the right is not. But, both the markers still actuate when I turn on the turn signal. No bulbs are out either. And it shouldnt be anything with the wiring because it really just started happening about 5 days ago. I havent changed anything on meh car.


Derek makes a good point...We need to get our terminology consistent here. "Side markers" are the little lights in the fenders. "Corners" are the lights adjacent to the headlights.


Side marker normal operation is to only blink when the blinkers are actuated. They should not light up with the parking lights or anything like that.


Corner lights should illuminate when the headlight switch is in the 2nd or 3rd position, and should blink when the turn signal or hazard switch is actuated. The bulbs have TWO internal filaments, it's like 2 bulbs in one glass housing. One filament lights up when the headlight switch is flipped. The other filament lights up when the lights are supposed to blink. One can burn out before the other does.


I'm not positive what you're referring to when you say "blinker", sidemarker" ect. But that's normal operation. Replace any bulbs in positions that are acting funny and go from there. Again, the corner lights have bulbs with a double filament in them, so don't assume the bulb is fine just because one function it performs seems to be working. The other filament can be burnt out. :thumbsup2:


Good luck and report back.

[m3f_xMPowerx_205221a8e8]

Derek makes a good point...We need to get our terminology consistent here. "Side markers" are the little lights in the fenders. "Corners" are the lights adjacent to the headlights.



Side marker normal operation is to only blink when the blinkers are actuated. They should not light up with the parking lights or anything like that.



Corner lights should illuminate when the headlight switch is in the 2nd or 3rd position, and should blink when the turn signal or hazard switch is actuated. The bulbs have TWO internal filaments, it's like 2 bulbs in one glass housing. One filament lights up when the headlight switch is flipped. The other filament lights up when the lights are supposed to blink. One can burn out before the other does.



I'm not positive what you're referring to when you say "blinker", sidemarker" ect. But that's normal operation. Replace any bulbs in positions that are acting funny and go from there. Again, the corner lights have bulbs with a double filament in them, so don't assume the bulb is fine just because one function it performs seems to be working. The other filament can be burnt out. :thumbsup2:



Good luck and report back.



I am not talking about the cnorner lights.. The sidemarkers.. little lights on the quarter pannel like you said. And thats what I thought about the side marker. I noticed that they werent ever lit when I had the headlights switched all the way on. But, now the left one stays on when headlights are all the way on and the right was is acting normal. Also, on the dash you can see that the left turn signal arrow is someone lit and the right isnt. And when I say blinker I mean turn signal.

[m3f_fiveightan_7e37700daf]

I am not talking about the cnorner lights.. The sidemarkers.. little lights on the quarter pannel like you said. And thats what I thought about the side marker. I noticed that they werent ever lit when I had the headlights switched all the way on. But, now the left one stays on when headlights are all the way on and the right was is acting normal. Also, on the dash you can see that the left turn signal arrow is someone lit and the right isnt. And when I say blinker I mean turn signal.

Replace the bulb in the corner light on that side. The simplest explanation is that the filaments inside the bulb are partially shorting together and it's sending voltage to the side marker. If you look closely, I bet you'll see that the rear turn signal is lighting up slightly as well.



It's not guaranteed to fix the problem, but it's the easiest thing to start with. And i'm relatively confident that's the issue.



If it doesn't help, do you have a multimeter to find out where that voltage is coming from? Without one, you'll be just haphazardly replacing parts. If you were going to haphazardly replace parts though, the "hazard flasher relay" would be first on the list.

[m3f_xMPowerx_205221a8e8]

Yeah I can go up to a shop tomorrow and play around with it. Thanks for all your time and ill let you know if I figure out anything.

[m3f_fiveightan_7e37700daf]

Yeah I can go up to a shop tomorrow and play around with it. Thanks for all your time and ill let you know if I figure out anything.

:beer:



Replace that bulb before you waste any time playing around with it.



Slide your hand in and gently squeeze the 2 tabs on the outside of the bulb holder that sits into the corner light. Squeezing will release the tabs from the ones on the housing and you can just pull it back. Be gentle, it's cold out and you don't want to break the tabs on the sides of your lights.

[m3f_xMPowerx_205221a8e8]

Lol ive done it before.. My corner lights used to be some really cheesey ebay ones.