hey. i haven't been around here for awhile, but i've just bought a new rig/project. it's pretty tight, an 85 wagon body with a 94 wagon turbo dropped in. real fast. i've never had a fast car like this before

 

problem is it's got a few issues with the lights wiring. this is what i've got (and don't):

 

-parking light switch works as would be expected. 

-light switch on blinker arm brings the headlights on but no tail lights or running lights

-brights work as normal.

-no brake lights under any circumstances. when the car is off and i tap the brake pedal, the door chime is triggered, (ding dong, ding dong when the pedal is depressed)

-no dash lights (this could be a bulb)

 

this seems like it could be a somewhat straightforward switcharound with the wires, but i know rarely is anything like this straightforward in the actual sense..

 

does anyone who knows these wires have an inkling of insight for me to move forward with? when i drive i can turn on the parking lights and the headlights to make do, but still no brake light. 

 

thanks,

joe

I'd start by finding the schematics for both versions online.  See what's different. 

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/158032-1986-gl-carbureted-to-1988-spfi-plug-and-play/

 

Similar Thread. Maybe they could help you with sorting out the wiring.

Wiring issues for sure.  I'm willing to bet you have more than one issue causing all your problems.

If you're good with schematics then it should be easy to tackle them

If not then I highly recommend having someone that's GOOD with wiring troubleshoot it.

You can easily create more problems than you have now.

thanks all for the followup! i'm not seasoned by any means with electrical which is why i'm tryin to not shoot myself in the foot-- dont have a buru buddy now that i'm living down here in oly. i bought this car with the body in progress, int/ext/wiring, and limited info. no better time to learn, but tryna be as careful as possible effing around troubleshooting

 

i'll be taking a look into the wiring soon, i'm waiting to get some of my manuals back from a friend. until then i'll be studying stuff online. 

 

thanks for the heads up on that one tomrhere. i'm getting a better idea with how to proceed here. still reading down the thread. i'm presuming that the dash harness was switched in mine cause everything is working fine except for these particulars. i suppose now it's a matter of splicing wire, or something. 

Edited March 24, 201610 yr by josolong

I have absolutely nothing helpful to add, but the fact that your door chime comes on when the brake pedal is depressed is probably the funniest funky wiring issue I've read .

hey. i haven't been around here for awhile, but i've just bought a new rig/project. it's pretty tight, an 85 wagon body with a 94 wagon turbo dropped in. real fast. i've never had a fast car like this before

 

problem is it's got a few issues with the lights wiring. this is what i've got (and don't):

 

-parking light switch works as would be expected. 

-light switch on blinker arm brings the headlights on but no tail lights or running lights

-brights work as normal.

-no brake lights under any circumstances. when the car is off and i tap the brake pedal, the door chime is triggered, (ding dong, ding dong when the pedal is depressed)

-no dash lights (this could be a bulb)

 

this seems like it could be a somewhat straightforward switcharound with the wires, but i know rarely is anything like this straightforward in the actual sense..

 

does anyone who knows these wires have an inkling of insight for me to move forward with? when i drive i can turn on the parking lights and the headlights to make do, but still no brake light. 

 

thanks,

joe

 

I do not see how the engine swap is relevant.

 

Check for voltage at the brake/tailamp socket.

If OK,then repair the shared ground point for the rear lights.

Yep bit of a nightmare tyring to fix someone else's incomplete work ...

You'll have to sort out what was changed in the swap & what was supposed to go where via the wiring diagrams  ...

Multimeter & test leads will help also, just have to be patient & go through each circuit to work out the bugs ...

Good luck ...

Ciao, Bantum ...

I do not see how the engine swap is relevant.

 

 

 

It could be relevant.  If the swap was done with the late engine harness plugged into the early body harness.  They are very VERY different but will plug right in.

 

Been there, done it.

Edited March 25, 201610 yr by firehawk618