lighting problem

**1988esi** · 10-23-2010, 09:52 PM

having a prob with my driving lights everything works but them and the gauge lights. brake lights blinkers head light all work heard of something called a light control relay does anyone know were that would be or what else it could be thanx

**Handyman Dan** · 10-24-2010, 02:10 AM

Here is a picture of a light controller.

I believe that this is located under the dash mounted on the righi side of the A/C duct in the center on the drivers side.
I am now looking at the wiring digrams to see if the lighting problem you are talking about is tied together with this relay. I will post my findings soon for you.

**Handyman Dan** · 10-24-2010, 05:06 AM

ü First let’s start with the fog lights. Here is something to listen to while you study this information.

ü The only time the fog lights will work is when the head lights are on and on low beam. This is the only time that the fog light relay and switch has power fed to them. Make sure that while testing for power on the fog lights that all the above spec. are met.

ü I would start with checking the bulbs first, check that you are getting a ground and pos. bat. Volt at the bulb socket.

ü If no voltage there then check at the fog light switch and see if you have voltage on the red wire with a white stripe, this wire comes from your left side low beam headlight. I am guessing that your left side low beam head light is working.

ü If you have power on the above wire then check the red wire with a green stripe (my was a red wire with a black stripe) coming from the switch it should have batt. Voltage with the switch on. This wire feeds the fog light relay.

ü If the above checks ok then you will need to check the fog light relay PN: MB43 5486 this relay is on the bracket with many relays under the hood on the driver’s side fender. The red wire with green stripe (may be red wire with black stripe) comes from the fog light switch it should have voltage on it when the headlights ore on and on low beam and the fog light switch is in the on position. Also the red wire going to the relay should have batt. Voltage on it. The green wire should have a good ground; this is the ground for the relay and also for the fog lights. The red wire with white stripe should have batt. Voltage on it when all the above is turned on, this wire is the wire that feeds the fog lights.
Here are some helpfull wiring diagrams.

[GLOW]Post a replay if this helps you or if you need more help.[/GLOW]

**Handyman Dan** · 10-24-2010, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by 1988esi

having a prob with my driving lights everything works but them and the Gage lights. brake lights blinkers head light all work heard of something called a light control relay does anyone know were that would be or what else it could be thanks

I have posted several wiring diagrams that should help you with the Gage lights problem. It looks like the problem will include the dimmer switch and the light controller relay. I have one if you need one. If you need more help just reply here and let me know. I will see if I can help you more.

**1988esi** · 10-24-2010, 10:51 PM

thanx those will help a lot the biggest thing i am trying to fix is the tail light driving lights not to worried about the fogs i am going to try the dimmer and the light control relay and see were those get me

**Handyman Dan** · 10-24-2010, 11:49 PM

Originally Posted by 1988esi

thanks those will help a lot the biggest thing i am trying to fix is the tail light driving lights not to worried about the fogs i am going to try the dimmer and the light control relay and see were those get me

I miss understood you I thought the head lights and tail lights were working. The dimmer and light controller will not have anything to do with the head lights or tail lights, these parts only control the dash lights.
You will need to be looking at the

· headlight relay,
· dash switches,
· high/low switch,
· fuse #1 #6 #9 and the fusible links (guessing that is what I think it might be) the wire to the left of this picture marked head tail. if you can pull on it and it fills like a rubber band then it is bad.

· tail light relay,
· passing relay
I hope this helps you some. Let me know how its going and what you find out.

**1988esi** · 10-26-2010, 12:41 AM

ok were is the tail light relay located? the head lights work also the turn signals and brake lights all work just not the running lights in the tail lights. i have checked bulbs and fuses all seem to bee good also changed the switches on the sides of the gauge cluster the gauge lights and running lights in the tails quit working at the same time

**Handyman Dan** · 10-27-2010, 01:02 AM

Originally Posted by 1988esi

ok were is the tail light relay located? the head lights work also the turn signals and brake lights all work just not the running lights in the tail lights. i have checked bulbs and fuses all seem to bee good also changed the switches on the sides of the gauge cluster the gauge lights and running lights in the tails quit working at the same time

OK the tail light relay is on the drivers side fender. You will need to remove the two nuts on the cover where the fuseable links is located and behind that cover is another fusable link junction block just in front of it is a block with 8 relays mounted on it. Now the two back relays are the pop up headlights relay the next two toward the front of the car are, the one tward the drivers side of the car is the tail light relay, the one toward the center ( passenger side) of the car is the headlight relay, This is the wiring diagram that explanes the location of the relays Engine compt. & under dash wiring diagram 88 starion
Dose this helps you? Let me know.

**1988esi** · 11-03-2010, 10:17 PM

ya got that figured out found the relay changed it that did not help checked all the fuses and changed the fusible links. still no driving lights or gauge lights i have changed everything u suggested and been trying to chase wires but nothin yet still have not tried the high low switch but it works is there somethin in it that would kill the tails thanx

**Handyman Dan** · 11-04-2010, 05:54 PM

Yes the turn lights are run through the blinker and hazzard switch, but I would check the following first. Take a test light and check the red wire at the tail light relay and see if you have power (12 volt pos.) on it. This wire gets power from the fusable-link. If you have power there check the red/yellow wire on the headlight relay. There is two in line fuses there on the fender wheel well, check those. Now if you have power there you can ground the green/white wire going to the tail light relay to energize it and the tail lights should be on, with the green/white grounded Check the red/white wire on the tail light relay for 12 volt, (if no power the relay is bad,) this wire goes to fuse #6 tail lights and tag lights. You can check the fuse #6 for power with the relay energized it should have power, from here go to the tail lights and see if you have 12 volts there at the tag light. Also just a note that if you have 12 volt Pos and still no lights then you don't have a ground, you must have a ground to complete the circuit. the way to check for ground is to run a wire from the battery pos post to the rear of the car (or whever you are checking for a ground) and hook your test light to this wire then if you touch any bare metal with the test light the light should glow. Now you can check the ground side of the bulb sockets to see if they have a ground.