I had just been working on my '84, re-connecting the overdrive switch to the wires. when I took it for a test drive, found I had no brakelights, back-up lights, or left turn signals. I'm thinking I have some strange electrical wierdness going on. My bulb failure light has been on for the last 2 months, even though all bulbs were working. I also replaced the dash 2 weekends ago, so a lot of wires were disconnected and reconected, but I was meticulous in doing so. What's up with my car? With other problems I at least know where to begin, but now I'm clueless. I replaced both left turn signal bulbs with new ones, still no go. Checked all fuses and they're fine, even the 25 amp. Are all of these things controlled by the same relay? Also, the hazzard flasher works, but only on the right side despite showing both green arrows flashing on thye instrument cluster. Help! I'm way confused...Thanks
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*Jakob Lunden* 1984 242 DL, transitioning from beater to classic, 1979 242 GT improving with age, 1968 Saab 96, impulse purchase

Fixed it all! A weird combination of a bad #6 fuse, corrosion on the back up lights, the left turn signal wire was disconnected at the switch (strange). I cleaned everything up, reconnected the wirea and put in a new fuse and all systems go. Funny how it all went at once, but I guess that's better than one at a time! Thanks guys.
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*Jakob Lunden* 1984 242 DL, transitioning from beater to classic, 1979 242 GT improving with age, 1968 Saab 96, impulse purchase

I am assuming that you have sedan, not a wagon.

It might be the connector where the harness wires attach to the left tail light. The foil that the connector pincers touch gets burned and oxidized over time. Remove the connector and look at the foil. The contact part is on the bottom side, you will need a mirror and flashlight.

Reconnect the connector while the left turn signals and parking lights are turned on, and see if the left lights come one in the process. Move the connector around, watch the lights.

Good Luck,

Bob

:>)

My break lights and backup lights were not working. The circuit boards on my 1990 wagon tail light assmblies were acting a little strange, with some of the lights being overly sensitive to tweaking the position of the bulbs. Since my tail light assemblies were getting old and the circuit boards were a little flaky, I replaced the assemblies. This however did not correct the break light and backup light problem. I finally took it in to the shop. They had to replace the shifter bushings and adjust the backup light switch that goes with the shifter. For the break lights, they replaced the bulb in the "third light" and now they wall ork fine, but that part was still a bit of a mystery. Anyway, it was $100, so could have been worse.

Were the lights working before you did your repair work? If so, then work back on the wiring circuit to see where the relationship could be. I am not good with electrical either. But I learned you can check to see if switches are getting power with a meter touching the powered wire, and the other to ground. Obviously there is no power to the bulbs. So I think you can work backward and see what is getting power, and what is not.