CUTLASS Another tail light/turn signal post 🤓

[Eddie Cutlass]

What’s up GBody world! Been searching around the site and I appreciate the past and current post to help us dial in on electrical issues.
Here’s my situation: I have an ‘85 Cutlass Brougham Sedan with the right tail light bulb only working when lights are turned on. Doesn’t light up when you apply the brake or when signaling right. Changed the bulb (1157) but still the same. No brake light or turn signal flashing...only park/night light. Other lights not working are the front left bumper turn signal (side turn all and fender light works and so does the tailight). And hazard lights not working (nothing happens when hazard button is pushed or pulled. Feels “thick” when pushing in hazards) All other side marker lights and some lights are working.
The sockets looked yellowish/light orange, so I ordered new bulb sockets for both the right rear and left front bumper (Rockauto), but wondering what else I should check in the mean time?
Would any stereo/alarm wiring cause any of the bulbs to burn out or not function properly? the previous owner seems to have wired in an alarm and aftermarket stereo before and it’s a hack job (previous owner passed away and i got the car from an auction).
I have noticed when I turn on the lights at night, the left turn signal indicator on the dash stays lit. (I’m guessing from reading other post, it’s from the amber bumper bulb not working?)
the gauge cluster lights work (except the check engine light...that was on when driving the car home and it turned off after driving for 400 miles or so, but doesn’t cycle or turn on when using a paper clip jumper) ordered bulb for that too, but that’s for another thread and another day 🙂

Thank y’all in advance!

 

[blk7gxn]

Sorry to hear about your issues with the lights, never fun tracing electrical issues. My guess is that both brake switch and turn signal flasher can't be bad at the same time, chances are very slim ( not saying you wouldn't have my luck though 😉 SO, the only thing with a common denominator would be GROUNDS. Just my educated guess here, smart move on socket replacement, seen those go bad too and do the same thing!

 

[Eddie Cutlass]

Sorry to hear about your issues with the lights, never fun tracing electrical issues. My guess is that both brake switch and turn signal flasher can't be bad at the same time, chances are very slim ( not saying you wouldn't have my luck though 😉 SO, the only thing with a common denominator would be GROUNDS. Just my educated guess here, smart move on socket replacement, seen those go bad too and do the same thing!

Thanks!
Update: So I didn’t clean any grounds (they all seemed clean and making solid contact). But I did clean out the twilight socket. Had old dried up grease build up. Scraped all that out, plugged in new bulb and it works! Now I have brake lights, turn signals and park/night light all working. Tried the same on front bumper signal, but still nothing. Changed bulbs and cleaned out socket, but unfortunately might be a bad socket. Didn’t notice any wires damaged. hazards still don’t work. (Can’t hear them either). I’ll replace front bumper socket when it comes in and see if that was the issue.

 

[Eddie Cutlass]

Update 3pm PST: hazards. Hazards seem to be the only switch not working. Do hazards have their own designated fuse? Thanks in advance.

 

[popeye1978]

I think Hazard Flasher is the problem

• Turn signals now work and as Hazard Switch is part of the Turn Signal Switch, low probability one part would break and the other wouldn't (though you've reported the Hazard Switch doesn't feel right)
• Brake lights and hazards get power from the same fuse; as brake lights work the remaining component is the Hazard Flasher

 

[Olds G's]

I agree with popeye1978. Here is the wiring diagram from the factory G body electrical troubleshooting manual. Yes there is a fuse to check per this print.

 

[Eddie Cutlass]

I think Hazard Flasher is the problem

• Turn signals now work and as Hazard Switch is part of the Turn Signal Switch, low probability one part would break and the other wouldn't (though you've reported the Hazard Switch doesn't feel right)
• Brake lights and hazards get power from the same fuse; as brake lights work the remaining component is the Hazard Flasher

Right on! Thank you. I’ll head out and grab a new flasher and try that!

 

[fleming442]

You need to verify voltage at the column; my money is on the turn signal switch. The white from the brake switch feeds the rear section of the turn switch, then is distributed to the yellow and green. Am I correct to assume the turn signals do not work as well? If there's no hazard or brake, there shouldn't be turn, either.
Also, on the ground side of things, check the ground behind the drivers side rear light, in side the trunk, where the ribbon cable meets the rear light harness. I doubt that's it, but worth looking at.

 

[Eddie Cutlass]

You need to verify voltage at the column; my money is on the turn signal switch. The white from the brake switch feeds the rear section of the turn switch, then is distributed to the yellow and green. Am I correct to assume the turn signals do not work as well? If there's no hazard or brake, there shouldn't be turn, either.
Also, on the ground side of things, check the ground behind the drivers side rear light, in side the trunk, where the ribbon cable meets the rear light harness. I doubt that's it, but worth looking at.

Hey Fleming442, so all the lights and turn signals work...the only thing not working are the hazards. The switch functions, but no flashing of hazards. All other lights work: brake, Night/park, turn signals, side markers, etc. (Front bumper socket might be bad, so I’m replacing that when part comes in)

 

[fleming442]

Then, it's just the hazard flasher. Swap the 2 and see if the turns quit and hazards work.