Convert front side marker to work as a turn signal and marker lamp
07-14-2009, 11:00 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 05-19-2009
Location: Florida
Posts: 124
Convert front side marker to work as a turn signal and marker lamp
Convert front side marker to work as a turn signal and marker lamp
Items needed -
4 Blue Quick Splice Connectors (available at auto supply)
Trim Panel Retainers Clips GM (available at auto supply and eBay)
18 Gauge wire (available at Wal*Mart)
3 or 4 feet of wire flex loom (available at auto supply)
Electrical tape
4 plastic tie wraps
flat blade screwdriver
1/4" socket set
needle nose pliers
standard pliers
wire cutters
Directions - also refer to images included herein -
1) Remove screws and plastic retainer clips from wheel well liner
2) Push liner up and away to remove from fender radius
3) Locate parking/signal lamp and remove connector
4) Locate side marker lamp and remove connector
5) Remove existing electrical tape from wires at each connector
5) Cut BLACK wire of marker lamp about 2" from connector
6) Place un-used end of BLACK marker lamp ground wire back into loom
7) Place one blue quick splice connector onto BLACK maker lamp wire from connector and about a 15" piece of new #18 wire into same quick wire connector,
squeeze with pliers to complete connection
8) Place other end of 15" #18 wire into 2nd quick splice connector
and place over BLUE turn signal wire going to the turn signal connector,
squeeze with pliers to complete connection
9) Close both safety clips of the quick wire connectors
10) Place new wire loom over new #18 wire to fit length of new wire and quick wire connectors
11) Tape both ends well with electrical tape
12) Wrap tape about ever 3" along new wire loom
13) Replace connectors on each respective lamp receptacle
14) Use plastic tie wraps to affix new loom in place
15) Replace plastic fender well liner using new retainer clips
as the old retainer clips may become useless during their removal
Items needed -
4 Blue Quick Splice Connectors (available at auto supply)
Trim Panel Retainers Clips GM (available at auto supply and eBay)
18 Gauge wire (available at Wal*Mart)
3 or 4 feet of wire flex loom (available at auto supply)
Electrical tape
4 plastic tie wraps
flat blade screwdriver
1/4" socket set
needle nose pliers
standard pliers
wire cutters
Directions - also refer to images included herein -
1) Remove screws and plastic retainer clips from wheel well liner
2) Push liner up and away to remove from fender radius
3) Locate parking/signal lamp and remove connector
4) Locate side marker lamp and remove connector
5) Remove existing electrical tape from wires at each connector
5) Cut BLACK wire of marker lamp about 2" from connector
6) Place un-used end of BLACK marker lamp ground wire back into loom
7) Place one blue quick splice connector onto BLACK maker lamp wire from connector and about a 15" piece of new #18 wire into same quick wire connector,
squeeze with pliers to complete connection
8) Place other end of 15" #18 wire into 2nd quick splice connector
and place over BLUE turn signal wire going to the turn signal connector,
squeeze with pliers to complete connection
9) Close both safety clips of the quick wire connectors
10) Place new wire loom over new #18 wire to fit length of new wire and quick wire connectors
11) Tape both ends well with electrical tape
12) Wrap tape about ever 3" along new wire loom
13) Replace connectors on each respective lamp receptacle
14) Use plastic tie wraps to affix new loom in place
15) Replace plastic fender well liner using new retainer clips
as the old retainer clips may become useless during their removal
Last edited by unique_w; 07-16-2009 at 10:44 AM. Reason: Add drawing per requests
07-14-2009, 11:56 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: 02-17-2009
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 123
nice, been thinking about doing this myself....I find it rather odd that they have such a very small amount of turn signal (side of taillights and headlight) that shows while on the side of the vehicle. I was also contemplating adding a turn signal (amber "2-3"led bar) to my mirrors.....
thx for the write up....one question though.....the parking light still works and they just get brighter with the turn signal on, or does this render the parking light useless?
thx for the write up....one question though.....the parking light still works and they just get brighter with the turn signal on, or does this render the parking light useless?
07-15-2009, 08:11 AM
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 05-19-2009
Location: Florida
Posts: 124
Yes the parking lights still work
I will explain the configuration.
Current flow to the parking lights remain unchanged, hence the parking lights and the turn signal both operate normally.
When the parking lights (or Headlights) are NOT turned ON (or they are OFF), current will flow to both the turn signal lights and the marker lights and they both will flash in sync.
With the parking lights ON, current will flow to the parking lights and the marker lights, but when the turn signal is used left or right on the vehicle, 12 volts will be applied to both sides of the marker light when the turn signal is operating causing no current flow through the marker light, hence it will not illuminate. That is; when the turn signal is ON the marker light will be OFF, when the turn signal is OFF the marker light will illuminate again. Once the turn is complete and the directional lever returns to it's normal OFF position, the marker light and the parking light will both illuminate normally.
I was also thinking about a mirror arrow, but I was concerned that the wiring would be more extensive. Not sure if this was an option from GM and the wires may already be in the door harness.
Hope this explanation helps.
Current flow to the parking lights remain unchanged, hence the parking lights and the turn signal both operate normally.
When the parking lights (or Headlights) are NOT turned ON (or they are OFF), current will flow to both the turn signal lights and the marker lights and they both will flash in sync.
With the parking lights ON, current will flow to the parking lights and the marker lights, but when the turn signal is used left or right on the vehicle, 12 volts will be applied to both sides of the marker light when the turn signal is operating causing no current flow through the marker light, hence it will not illuminate. That is; when the turn signal is ON the marker light will be OFF, when the turn signal is OFF the marker light will illuminate again. Once the turn is complete and the directional lever returns to it's normal OFF position, the marker light and the parking light will both illuminate normally.
I was also thinking about a mirror arrow, but I was concerned that the wiring would be more extensive. Not sure if this was an option from GM and the wires may already be in the door harness.
Hope this explanation helps.
07-15-2009, 08:46 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: 07-17-2006
Location: Dallas, GA
Posts: 6,050
I will explain the configuration.
Current flow to the parking lights remain unchanged, hence the parking lights and the turn signal both operate normally.
When the parking lights (or Headlights) are NOT turned ON (or they are OFF), current will flow to both the turn signal lights and the marker lights and they both will flash in sync.
With the parking lights ON, current will flow to the parking lights and the marker lights, but when the turn signal is used left or right on the vehicle, 12 volts will be applied to both sides of the marker light when the turn signal is operating causing no current flow through the marker light, hence it will not illuminate. That is; when the turn signal is ON the marker light will be OFF, when the turn signal is OFF the marker light will illuminate again. Once the turn is complete and the directional lever returns to it's normal OFF position, the marker light and the parking light will both illuminate normally.
Current flow to the parking lights remain unchanged, hence the parking lights and the turn signal both operate normally.
When the parking lights (or Headlights) are NOT turned ON (or they are OFF), current will flow to both the turn signal lights and the marker lights and they both will flash in sync.
With the parking lights ON, current will flow to the parking lights and the marker lights, but when the turn signal is used left or right on the vehicle, 12 volts will be applied to both sides of the marker light when the turn signal is operating causing no current flow through the marker light, hence it will not illuminate. That is; when the turn signal is ON the marker light will be OFF, when the turn signal is OFF the marker light will illuminate again. Once the turn is complete and the directional lever returns to it's normal OFF position, the marker light and the parking light will both illuminate normally.
Or did I read that backwards....
