Headlight / turn signal light out....

ericb214 · #1 (**permalink**) 04-28-2008, 02:56 PM

Hi all... I posted and read through several threads concerning my pass. side front turn signal. The fog light was blinking as opposed to the turn signal.

As per everyones advice, I did the following:

Checked and cleaned ALL the grounds on the front of the car, including but not limited to the 2 ground connections in the front of the radiator. The ground connection to the side of the radiador and all the other grounds I could see including the one in the headlight socket (for the headlight).

I also cleaned all the fuse box contacts and replaced all the fuses.

No matter what I did the turn signal wouldnt blink! I was about to give up on the blinker when my passenger side headlight went out (high and low beam)! I bought a new one and still no light. Then I noticed that the driver side low beam was also out!!!

I know chasing electrical gremlins can be a horrible task but is there anything anyone can suggest??

I'm thinking that I should remove the fuse box and clean the connections on the back side. When I replaced the fuses there was virtually no corrosion on the contacts. But who knows, maybe there is a faulty connection in the back side. Everything else electrical seems to be in good working order... Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

ericb214 · #2 (**permalink**) 04-29-2008, 06:20 PM

wow... Anyone?

Alfajay · #3 (**permalink**) 04-30-2008, 10:18 AM

I doubt your problem is in the vicinity of the fusebox. My guess would be the wiring between the fuse box and the lights.

I know nothing about '86 spiders - all my Alfas are 20 years older ('cept for that 164) - so let me ask a dumb question: Are the foglights on your car factory, or did a previous owner install them? If they were put in by the PO, then you should focus on whatever wiring has been added. Most previous owners do an abysmal job of wiring, producing outcomes like having the foglights flash when the turnsignal switch is actuated.

My advice would be to buy one of those $4.99 pointy-ended testers and use it to see where power to your headlights and turn signals goes off track. Start at the fusebox/TS switch and work your way forward.

Checking all grounds is a good idea too, though it sounds as if you have already done that.

You never mentioned whether your rear turn signals were working correctly.

ericb214 · #4 (**permalink**) 05-01-2008, 05:17 PM

The rear lights are working fine and the front fog lights are stock. I just picked up a tester on the way home from work today. I'm going to test from the fusebox to the light and see what I can figure out. The frustrating thing about this is that based on some other posts I searched, others have had this problem and just by checking and cleaning grounds the issues got resolved! I haven't really looked through the wiring diagram in the shop manual but will check it out tonight. Thanks for the advice, as always it's very much appreciated

Alfajay · #5 (**permalink**) 05-01-2008, 05:21 PM

Hmm - I was hoping you were going to tell me that they were PepBoys fog lights that the PO had wired with lamp cord and insulated with masking tape (which is pretty typical). If they are factory, and if no one has messed with the wiring (which in an 22 year old Alfa is pretty close to a miracle), then I'm stumped.

Yea, testing with the lamp indicator, and cleaning any grounds that you might have missed is as good a strategy as any.