wisdom

Hey guys/gals,

I was installing SMD LEDs on the rear parking/city lights. The ones that are on the far corners of the Ap1 tail lights. So during the install on the drivers side, I left the parking/lights on (first click on the stalk) I plugged in the LED, lite up fine. Then for some reason, I went to unplug the LED and as soon as I plugged it back in, everything went out. So I switched back to the OEM light bulbs. The easy part was that I the found the 10 amp fuse that was blown under the dash. But the driver side remains unlit. It doesn't light, I checked the bulb and the bulb is working fine (the thin peice of metal inside the bulb is still in tact).

The clip that plugs into the bulb holder is nice and secure, there's only one orientation to plug that in.

So what can be wrong? Is it possible for the wires to be burnt?

Any advice or suggestion would be appreciated. Thanks.

CapoArgentino

Assuming you re-checked ALL the fuses are fine, do this:

Cut the 2 wires for the left rear marker light (Or Driver side, as you mentioned), leaving enough length from the socket to where you can actually re-connect the cables later. Peel them and grab any extra 12v bulb your may have lying around or a multimeter would be best.

With the parking lights on, use either to see if there is voltage. It should read slightly below 12 volts (Approx 11.57v).

I highly doubt you burnt a cable.

If you do have a multimeter, you may not need to cut anything. See if you can touch the contacts in the socket with both probe pins.

wisdom

I checked all the appropriate fuses already. It was blown but i replaced it and now all the things associated to that fuse work, except for the driver's side rear light.

So by cutting the wires leading to the socket, I would use the postive and negative wire (from car) to see if I can light the bulb? So what if it doesn't light the bulb or what if it does?

Kind of relieving to hear that its doubt-able to burn the wires.

CapoArgentino

Yeap, exactly that. See if it lights the bulb. If it doesn't, I'll be very surprised. If it does light, you might have damaged the actual socket or socket contacts.

Fuses are there to keep the cables from burning up when a short is made. This is why I doubt that the cables burnt and its not enough voltage/amps to fry them either.

Come back after testing this and we'll go from there.

SgtB

You can just use a meter and check for 12v at the prongs. I'd do that before I'd start cutting things.

CapoArgentino

Thats what I said

wisdom

I don't have a multimeter....going to home depot to see if i can buy one.

thanks for the help so far.

CapoArgentino

You're welcome

SgtB

I'm blind.

wisdom

OMG. All i had to do was flip the plug that inserts into the socket. I guess i had the polarity switched. I assume that the plug only goes in one direction, guess i was wrong.

Thanks guys.