front marker lamps always on

Hi folks. On the 68, the front marker lamps are always on when the battery is connected. This seems pretty odd since it is on a switched circuit. The rear lamps behave as they should. Maybe coincidentally, the L/R turn signal indicator lamps in the dash both illuminate solid when the headlights are on. Turn signals and flashers work normally.

Am I just looking at a bad ground issue here? The harness is new. I haven't dug into the schematics yet. Just thought I'd check to see if anyone has seen something similar.

Thanks,

Marty

Could be a misplaced wire at the firewall connector since rears do not come on.

I think you have the rare daytime running light option for 68.

Bad ground or shorted wire, but I'd bet on the ground. Do you have the short little ground wires that go to the headlight brackets and the ones on the turn signals? These have to be used and they should have a little star washer that goes under them to cut through the paint to get a good ground.

I think you have the rare daytime running light option for 68.

Heh, heh. I always like it when I can pass off my lack of knowledge as a "special feature."

OK folks, I'm feeling a bit stumped on this one. Put your thinking caps on and help me out!

The front marker lamps are always on with the battery connected. I fixed a broken ground on the left front directional lamp yesterday that I had optimistically hoped was going to fix it, but no joy. It did fix a couple other weird issues though.

The schematics in the assembly manual haven't been much help. I can see that I have all necessary grounds in place, so I don't think it is a feedback issue.

If I disconnect the black wire from the horn relay, the lamps go out. I also tried various "creative" arrangements for the relay wires, but nothing helped. The relay is definately energizing (not the buzzer) when the wire is connected. Maybe I have the wires in the wrong place? I can't see where they would hook up differently. Anyone have a pic of this?

Thanks,

Marty

BTW: Thanks to your help, the 68 is back on the road after a long hiatus! Just a few issues to resolve before I return it to my (faster) pastor.

Well, if it is a misplaced ground, the easy test is to take a DVM and put one end on the light ground and the other end on the neg side of the battery. If the DVM registers, you found your problem. If not, you are going to have to trace the hot wire back to it's source. You will definitely need a wiring diagram.

The diagram will also show you if the hot lead to the light originates at the horn relay (doubtful).

alan

I just looked at a wiring diagram,

http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=93576

The marker lights, front and rear come off the hot side of the light switch and to a chassis ground. At no point do they get near the horn relay. Something got changed after your car left the factory. Time to start sleuthing!!!

alan

Thanks for confirming that. I didn't see where the horn relay should have been a player in this either. Incidentally, how many wires should be on the horn relay? I have two large leads, and then small green and a purple (I think, not there to see it at the moment), and the black I mentioned. Did I hook something up there that doesn't belong?

PM Jim and get the password to the schematics. It will make your quest infinitely easier!!

alan