NightFallInc
TYF Newbie
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2015
- Posts
- 6
- Reaction score
- 0
Hey all,
Been lurking for a while, and very much appreciate the overall depth of knowledge I've been able to access, so I thought I'd finally join up and get involved in the discussion.
I've got a daily driver 2005 Tahoe LT 5.3L (RWD, Non-flex) here, and I've done a few things to bring it "up to date", including LED interior lights, LED license plate lights, LED 3rd Brake, LED turn signals & Daytime running lights in smoked housings, etc.
I've replaced the Daytime Running Lights with LED switchback bulbs, which run bright white during normal operation, and when the turn signal is activated, they blink amber-off, amber-off (instead of amber-white) along with my actual turn signal bulbs (amber 194 LED bulbs).
Unfortunately, I'm having difficulty with the Parking Lights...
First of all, most of the information I've encountered online has claimed that the bulb required by the parking light harness & socket is a 4114, but nearly all of the 4114 bulbs I've attempted to run in the sockets have either had a negligible fit in the socket, where they tried to fall out, or they simply wouldn't slot into place in the socket at all. I've not had this problem with standard glass-and-filament bulbs, like you would buy from your local auto store, though - just the LED bulbs I've tried.
Having said that, I have had luck with some LED 3157 bulbs, which is what the DRL's are. They snap right in, and light up when the parking lights are activated (locking or unlocking the doors with the keyless entry remote).
However, only my passenger side parking light will light up. I examined the sockets, and found that both of them look as if someone used the wrong bulb in them, because they're both very browned (the plugs are white) around the actual bulb slot, as if they've been exposed to high heat for a prolonged period of time. This shouldn't be the case, as these lights are definitely NOT a constant-on light, the way the DRL's are...
SO
I thought I'd be smart, and bought two new AC Delco sockets - the two-wire type, which appear to be the exact sockets I'm having trouble with, and are aftermarket replacement units for GM sockets. I decided to replace both of them, since they're both equally burned-out in appearance, and if that IS the problem, it's only a matter of time, most likely, before the passenger side parking light decides to stop working as well. Might as well swap in new sockets on both sides, while I'm doing one side already, was my thinking.
Now I'm no electrical prodigy, by any means, and in fact, there is really probably nothing I hate more, in terms of automotive fixes or projects, than those which require me to start wiring up things. I really don't like getting involved in complex electronic system "editing". I mean, I can put up a ceiling fan or new light fixture with the best of them, but electrical work just isn't really my strong suit, you know?
Well, I started with the harness plug that wasn't working. Before anyone asks, yes, I DID try multiple tested-working bulbs in the plug on both sides, in order to verify that it was in fact the socket which was the problem, and not a faulty or damaged (or wrongly-sized) bulb. It's the harness. I think.
I clipped the burned-looking plug off the end of the harness, just a bit after it exits the stock wire loom, and got down to the business of wiring in the new socket. The installation video I referenced claimed that the wiring didn't matter - either wire can be wired to hot, and the other can be wired to ground, and the only difference it should make is that you may need to reverse the direction in which you slot your bulb into the socket (polarity).
Even so, I tried BOTH ways, when wiring the socket up, and got ZERO results, with a tested-working bulb. So apparently, my problem isn't in the socket itself, but somewhere between the power source and the socket, in the wiring itself.
At this point, I'll add in a few bits of relevant information which might help you all understand my situation.
The sockets I purchased (online) arrived wired with 14 gauge wire, while the wires coming out of my plug harness for the parking lights is, as near as I can determine, 18 gauge (much smaller) so this made it a bit of a ***** to wire up with any sort of connectors I had on hand - the ones they supplied with the new plugs were basically worthless for clamping down onto the smaller gauge wire - it just pulled out, no matter how solidly I crimped it.
I did make sure I got a good, twisted-together connection, BOTH WAYS, though, before I gave up on the project. Nothing doing.
Also, it's worth mentioning that I did not investigate the possibility that there was a fuse burned out or something equally simple - because I am assuming (and yes, I know what they say about assumption) that there isn't a fuse for each individual light... maybe I'm wrong, but that would be one HELL of a lot of fuses.
Surely, it's at least broken down by groups of lights - either both parking lights on one fuse together, or multiple lights on the driver's side being linked to one fuse, and the same lights on the passenger side being linked to another fuse. Someone please let me know if I'm wrong.
At any rate, I'm having no luck figuring out what the problem is. I can always just wire the old socket back into my harness - I wasn't dumb enough to discard it or anything - I knew I might be needing it, and it's a nice clean cut, so it won't be a problem if I have to rewire it.
My question is - has anyone else had this problem? Did you fix it, and if so, what did you have to do? Am I going to need to chase the wiring all the way back to the fuse box, and make sure there are no loose connections somewhere, and no broken wires? Or should I just try to get a replacement section of harness for that particular light (or light group - I'm not entirely sure what all runs together through that loom) - because if so, I would guess that it's going to get expensive quick.
Any thoughts or insights would be very welcome - thanks in advance for all your help - I'm kind of stuck, here!
Best wishes to all,
NFI
Been lurking for a while, and very much appreciate the overall depth of knowledge I've been able to access, so I thought I'd finally join up and get involved in the discussion.
I've got a daily driver 2005 Tahoe LT 5.3L (RWD, Non-flex) here, and I've done a few things to bring it "up to date", including LED interior lights, LED license plate lights, LED 3rd Brake, LED turn signals & Daytime running lights in smoked housings, etc.
I've replaced the Daytime Running Lights with LED switchback bulbs, which run bright white during normal operation, and when the turn signal is activated, they blink amber-off, amber-off (instead of amber-white) along with my actual turn signal bulbs (amber 194 LED bulbs).
Unfortunately, I'm having difficulty with the Parking Lights...
First of all, most of the information I've encountered online has claimed that the bulb required by the parking light harness & socket is a 4114, but nearly all of the 4114 bulbs I've attempted to run in the sockets have either had a negligible fit in the socket, where they tried to fall out, or they simply wouldn't slot into place in the socket at all. I've not had this problem with standard glass-and-filament bulbs, like you would buy from your local auto store, though - just the LED bulbs I've tried.
Having said that, I have had luck with some LED 3157 bulbs, which is what the DRL's are. They snap right in, and light up when the parking lights are activated (locking or unlocking the doors with the keyless entry remote).
However, only my passenger side parking light will light up. I examined the sockets, and found that both of them look as if someone used the wrong bulb in them, because they're both very browned (the plugs are white) around the actual bulb slot, as if they've been exposed to high heat for a prolonged period of time. This shouldn't be the case, as these lights are definitely NOT a constant-on light, the way the DRL's are...
SO
I thought I'd be smart, and bought two new AC Delco sockets - the two-wire type, which appear to be the exact sockets I'm having trouble with, and are aftermarket replacement units for GM sockets. I decided to replace both of them, since they're both equally burned-out in appearance, and if that IS the problem, it's only a matter of time, most likely, before the passenger side parking light decides to stop working as well. Might as well swap in new sockets on both sides, while I'm doing one side already, was my thinking.
Now I'm no electrical prodigy, by any means, and in fact, there is really probably nothing I hate more, in terms of automotive fixes or projects, than those which require me to start wiring up things. I really don't like getting involved in complex electronic system "editing". I mean, I can put up a ceiling fan or new light fixture with the best of them, but electrical work just isn't really my strong suit, you know?
Well, I started with the harness plug that wasn't working. Before anyone asks, yes, I DID try multiple tested-working bulbs in the plug on both sides, in order to verify that it was in fact the socket which was the problem, and not a faulty or damaged (or wrongly-sized) bulb. It's the harness. I think.
I clipped the burned-looking plug off the end of the harness, just a bit after it exits the stock wire loom, and got down to the business of wiring in the new socket. The installation video I referenced claimed that the wiring didn't matter - either wire can be wired to hot, and the other can be wired to ground, and the only difference it should make is that you may need to reverse the direction in which you slot your bulb into the socket (polarity).
Even so, I tried BOTH ways, when wiring the socket up, and got ZERO results, with a tested-working bulb. So apparently, my problem isn't in the socket itself, but somewhere between the power source and the socket, in the wiring itself.
At this point, I'll add in a few bits of relevant information which might help you all understand my situation.
The sockets I purchased (online) arrived wired with 14 gauge wire, while the wires coming out of my plug harness for the parking lights is, as near as I can determine, 18 gauge (much smaller) so this made it a bit of a ***** to wire up with any sort of connectors I had on hand - the ones they supplied with the new plugs were basically worthless for clamping down onto the smaller gauge wire - it just pulled out, no matter how solidly I crimped it.
I did make sure I got a good, twisted-together connection, BOTH WAYS, though, before I gave up on the project. Nothing doing.
Also, it's worth mentioning that I did not investigate the possibility that there was a fuse burned out or something equally simple - because I am assuming (and yes, I know what they say about assumption) that there isn't a fuse for each individual light... maybe I'm wrong, but that would be one HELL of a lot of fuses.
Surely, it's at least broken down by groups of lights - either both parking lights on one fuse together, or multiple lights on the driver's side being linked to one fuse, and the same lights on the passenger side being linked to another fuse. Someone please let me know if I'm wrong.
At any rate, I'm having no luck figuring out what the problem is. I can always just wire the old socket back into my harness - I wasn't dumb enough to discard it or anything - I knew I might be needing it, and it's a nice clean cut, so it won't be a problem if I have to rewire it.
My question is - has anyone else had this problem? Did you fix it, and if so, what did you have to do? Am I going to need to chase the wiring all the way back to the fuse box, and make sure there are no loose connections somewhere, and no broken wires? Or should I just try to get a replacement section of harness for that particular light (or light group - I'm not entirely sure what all runs together through that loom) - because if so, I would guess that it's going to get expensive quick.
Any thoughts or insights would be very welcome - thanks in advance for all your help - I'm kind of stuck, here!
Best wishes to all,
NFI
Last edited: