Ryanb

Love it or hate it, say what you will, the man gets an A+ for vison and creatvity in my book. There are details about the car I don't care for, but overall it looks un like any other I have ever seen and for that alone i have mad respect.

not sure about the last question, but i do bet on the the disty. i had the same issues and a new disty did the trick. i have a used one laying around I will send you for 15 plus shipping if you are in need. And no i'm not saying it's your disty to try and make a sale, just trying to help you out because the board always helps me out.

Skip...you the man! Stop lamp checker it was! A 32 dollar part from napa, and the closest one is in West Virginia so I'll have it in a week. So this thing isn't a relay??? Because it sure looks like one. I stumped Knects, Auto Zone, and Schucks with this part. Napa was the one to save my rump roast, as usual. Thanks again everybody for your info.

Darren: Checking down the line is what I was trying to avoid becuase " down the line" from the switch is up under the dash . That will be my next attempt after this. Skip: Thank you! I really apreciate your info. Colours and pin count is very helpfull, I'm diving back in first thing tommorow when I have some day light. I will also check the " stop light checker " . I really don't remember seeing one, but If FSM says it's there, then it has to be. Dragon: I have not tried new bulbs from the package, but I did pull them from my roomates car (same car) and they still didn't work. Plus, if you read closely, I tested the current at the brake light and there was none, so a bulb is not the issue. But thank you for the advice, I apreciate you giving me an opinion, the more the better. Thank you guys for your help, I'll keep you updated.

Yes, they were the self tappers, and I took it out over a year ago, but I will still check. I bought the car with a Webber, so I also don't always know what to trace because all the connecters that went into the computer for the Hitachi are still up in the dash just hanging out. Thanks for your input though, it gives me more to check.

Alright, I checked behind the rear PS panel and the ground is good. There are 4 connecters back there, one goes across to the DS lights rear, one connects to the PS lights rear, and one is just there with nothing connected to it and no power going to it.The one with no power is a 6 prong connecter.There is also a red connecter that seems to be seperate from the main wiring harness and feeds up into the wall going up by the window ( by whatever the pump looking thing is with hard lines going to it) instead of through under the trim. I traced these along the trim down the PS. I found no connecters between the PS dash and the rear connecters mentioned above. I have power going to the switch behind the brake petal...so my question is, Does anyone know what color wire runs to the brake lights or which harness it connects to or what? Everything is up in the dash from this point and I really would rather not start taking the dash apart untill I know what I'm looking for. Any other idea or thoughts? Anybody?!?! I'm going crazy. Wiring is deffinitley my weakest link as far as car knowledge goes. Again, this is an 83. EA81. Wagon. Manual. At one point it had an electronic brake controller and a trailer hitch light connecter that I have long since removed ( i don't believe that to have ever effected anything ) I hope this is all enought info for someone to give me something here.

It's inside the alternator ( at least on an EA81) and I'm pretty sure it's time to replace the whole deal at that point.

Thanks for the info guys. oh, and it's an 83 EA81. I thought you could tell from the picture mext to my posts, sorry.

None of that worked. I'm lost. What I really don't get is why the tail lights still work but the brake lights don't and they are the same bulb. There is power to the switch behind the brake pedal as well. There must be a relay somewhere but ************ if I know where it is. Any other ideas? Bump

For those of you that read this often you are starting to realize my car is possesed. a new electrical issue a month... okay, no brake lights. It's not a fuse, and it's not the switch under the peddle. Is there a relay on the brake lights? and if so does anyone wich one specifically? Any other thoughts as to what I should check. What would muybae cause both to stop grounding? Also, I do NOT have the warning light on my dash telling me the lights are out, but they don't work.

That's how I roll! lol

Yes! Listen to the man above me, he knows.... Also, try napa, they have new and re frurb. clutches for good prices.

That's sad about your tranny.... The 82 has the best geared dual range tranny of any sub for off roading ) Congrats on the car...you can always bump up to the ea82 5 speed tranny with a little grinding on the bell housing, but that damn 82 tranny is so sweet when it's working right.

I have an EA81 i would like re built. I don't know nearly enough to go this far with auto maintenetnce. I would love to learn, but as of now I'd do more harm then good. It's either this or an EJ, so we'll see. I have one EA81 enginge in my garage with ( i beleive ) a toasted rod bearing, or something of that nature. The engine I'm currently running has had a salt water bath ( went in the ocean) and it's starting to die. I think I have a broken valve...it's missing, it's sputtering from the passenger side bank of valves, and there is a lack of power and you can hear gust of air, it almost sounds like there is a plug missing and air is coming straight out of the cylnder, but that's not the case. It sucks, I want a strong engine. So who knows enough to do this, has the time, and would be into it? Please contact me...trades...money..parts.. lets talk.

I really dont want to read all 4 pages, i'm off to work, so I hope I dont repeat what someone eklse says...... have you checked the voltage regulator?

Okay...ready for my day? First of all, YAY IT WORKS! I found the relay under the dash, EVENTUALLY I got one at napa for like 26 bucks. Then the lights worked. In the process I was rear ended from behind. Then, on my way to get food, my clutch cable snapped. I spent the better part of my day changing that ************ like Mcguyver with the 3 tools I had on my person. That was after a mile and half walk to the Subie dealer nearest me for a new cable. That all said and done I made it over to the napa JUST before it got dark and luckily once I bought the relay I had light. The best part ( besides trasportaion ) my mudrat rear bumper and two hitch F&$#%d this guys whole grill and bumper up. Not even a tiny scrath on my car. LOLZ LOLZ LOLZ! Thanks a million , especially Cougar and Skip, you saved my rump roast.

Here's the news... Still no lights....with the switch on I get power at the fusible links. The black/white wire under the red fusable link gets power as well. Under the dash The small metal almost cansiter shape object I assume is the relay. It has a black/red wire out the back. No power in that line at all...so that would mean it would be that relay, correct? I tried tapping it and it did nothing at all. I'm gonna go buy a new one of those tommorow at Napa and hope that solves it. Anybody think that means something else that I'm missing? Please feel free to enlighten me. Thanks again for all your help and input, much appreciated.

I have been using a voltimiter to test connections, It's difficult because the lights occasionally come back on, in turn suppliying power back to those fuses. I'm still at work but as soon as I get home I will check that relay and under the fusible links. Thanks alot for your guys' input. My haynes is barely being helpfull and I don't have a facroty service manual. Withough the advice of you guys I'd be up a creek, hopefully I'm not now. -Ryan

Thanks. But it's not the fusible links. They are all just fine, and they are all still getting power...any other ideas? I will look under the link box though for a faluty wire or a short, thanks Skip

Bump

*Update** Here's what else I know... They sem to be shorting some where. When I'm not evcen touching the car they sometimes come on by themselves now. This wasn't happening before. When the lights aren't working, neither are the 3 fuses on the bottom left of the fuse box...the rear license illumination, the Rh and the LH all don't get power, but the fusible links still do. Also, while all the lights were on I unplugged 4 relayes under the hood next to the fusable links, but even with all 4 unplugged the lights stayed on. The right relay on the bracket clicks when the lights are turned on, but when I unplugged it it didn;t seem to affect anything??!?!?! Anybody! Please!

Yeah, maybe. But why would the headlights, high beams, and tail lights all go out just cause one wasn;t connected properly? I'm thinking it's more about something that connects them all toegther. The fuse box, a relay, a connection at the fusible links...something. I just don't know where to start, electrical freaks me out, I don;t mess with it too much.

i went off roading yesterday ( I don't know if thats relevant or not) and today I have no lights. I had lights earlier today but then they just quit working. I still have brake lights, hazards, and signals. No* It's not a fuse. I also tried a different switch. My haynes is not offering much help. Anybody have any ideas? 83 GL Wagon.

Alright, I never post about my car unless it's got issues. Well, I just got my swampers on and I figured i'd throw up a pic so people around town know who I am and what not. Some of you have seem my car go from broke down and busted, to slightly less busted and a little more mean. Lol. Car mods are as follows: Webber Reinforced rear diff 3" lift, half Mud Rat, half Ian White. Power steering Custom sounds two 5" mids two 3" highs and one big 15" sub with Ipod providing the tunes 5 speed ea82 tranny EA82 dome light (lolz) Push par 27.5 Swapmers OSR O2R on 14" Chrome Toyota Spokes * Still rolling the "Ocean Engine" from the "SS Subaru" the thing runs strong. ** Coming Soon** Roof rack basket, and a welded diff. goes back in. That's all I can think of for now. Thanks for letting me gloat about my toy, this car effin liberates me. Ryan

On the Audi diff....please do let us know.