97 Riviera - enabling cornering lamps
edwinn
06-19-2010, 08:11 AM
First off.. what a great forum! New member here. :)
My 97 Riviera doesn't have the features package that includes cornering lamps. The lamp housings and lenses are in place (AFAIK) but obviously not energized. My 86 Riv had turn lamps and they were GREAT!
The dealer says that in order to activate the cornering lamp function, the multi-function lever (blinker lever) needs to be changed. Well it already had a new MFL (lever) installed about 8 years ago and it was an expensive job!!
Can I connect and activate the cornering lamps without replacing the MFL? Perhaps they installed the correct MF switch before. Can get the P/N from the service invoice if necessary.
-edwinn
My 97 Riviera doesn't have the features package that includes cornering lamps. The lamp housings and lenses are in place (AFAIK) but obviously not energized. My 86 Riv had turn lamps and they were GREAT!
The dealer says that in order to activate the cornering lamp function, the multi-function lever (blinker lever) needs to be changed. Well it already had a new MFL (lever) installed about 8 years ago and it was an expensive job!!
Can I connect and activate the cornering lamps without replacing the MFL? Perhaps they installed the correct MF switch before. Can get the P/N from the service invoice if necessary.
-edwinn
sprucegoose
06-20-2010, 08:52 PM
Welcome to the forum Edwinn!
Wow, I had no idea it was an option to have the cornering lamps... I had to replace my MFL a while back as the wiper switch part of it took a dive. No easy task I tell you. Had to disassemble quite a few parts to get at that!
I know the used replacement switch I got came out of a 97 and I used it in my 98. There was never any mention of whether it had this option or not, even when I got a quote from the dealer on the new part... This sounds odd to me that they would make different MFL just for this. I would think the wiring harness going down to those lamps or maybe an additional solenoid under the hood or rear seat electronics area maybe??
Wow, I had no idea it was an option to have the cornering lamps... I had to replace my MFL a while back as the wiper switch part of it took a dive. No easy task I tell you. Had to disassemble quite a few parts to get at that!
I know the used replacement switch I got came out of a 97 and I used it in my 98. There was never any mention of whether it had this option or not, even when I got a quote from the dealer on the new part... This sounds odd to me that they would make different MFL just for this. I would think the wiring harness going down to those lamps or maybe an additional solenoid under the hood or rear seat electronics area maybe??
edwinn
06-21-2010, 05:35 PM
Well.. I'm not completely sure or believe what they're telling me, and haven't been able to access the side lamps. BOTH front parking lamps are loose and rattling, and the shop manager has said they could go in there from underneath and apply some foam-rubber strips to secure. Might as well connect and enable the cornering lamps at the same time, that is.. if it's possible!!
-edwinn
-edwinn
edwinn
06-26-2010, 09:29 AM
The multi-function lever (part #26052428) was replaced on 07/05/01 at 83,751 miles. I'll be getting in touch with the Body Shop manager on activating the Cornering Lamps, as we already talked about securing the front parking lamps which are loose and rattling. I could figure it out using the schematic for the vehicle, but don't have one.
-edwinn
-edwinn
trooperii2000
07-26-2010, 07:58 PM
hi ,
on most GM cars the cornering light is wired thru the turn signal switch. it is wired to light only when the headlamps are on and the turn signal lever is in either the right or left flash position. . i am not sure if the standard MFL is pre wired for the cornering lights, but i would take a test light or voltmeter and poke around the wiring harnesses near the lights to see if i can find two wires that are only constantly hot when the headlamp and either the left or right hand flashers are on. if you cannot find one you can either build a timing circuit , or go to a junkyard and look for any 1980 -1990 for crown victoria or grand marquis or 1980-1989 lincoln town car that has cornering lamps and pull the two bi-metal thermal cornering lamp relays located under the dashboard. they are little aluminum cylinders which are about 1 1/4" inch in diameter and about 1 1/2" inches tall. they look exactly like a turn signal flasher from the era. there will be two of them attached to the same bolt to the metal frame under the dashboard. the mounting tab acts as a ground connection. take both relays, and the plugs. when you cut the wiring leave enough extra wire for you to be able to work with on your car. the relay has 3 terminals and the outer metal shell is the ground connection. i cannot remember the exact wiring but one terminal requires a steady 12v power source to drive the lamps, one is the input which is tapped into the turn signal wire for the appropriate side of the car. the final terminal is the output to the cornering lamp. i used a nut and bolt along with a wire with a ring terminal to join both modules together and the wire with ring terminal provides the ground connection. the way i figured out which terminal did what was to use a pair of pliers to carefully pry off the cover of one relay and looked at where the wires went to . the input signal from the turn signal wiring is the terminal where it becomes a tiny wire wrapped around a piece of metal. this wire is a "heater" which heats the metal it is wrapped around. the metal it is wrapped around is connected to one of the other terminals. the relay works by using the bi-metal effect by taking the pulsing 12v of the turn signal input wiring and using it to heat a piece of bi-metal (which can be the in or output terminal) which expands due to the heat and makes contact with the other terminal thus turning on the cornering lamp.the cornering lamp will have a delay of about 1-4 seconds after the turn signal is turned off because it take a bit of time for the bi-metal to cool and contract , thus breaking the circuit to the cornering lamp.....
hope this helps
on most GM cars the cornering light is wired thru the turn signal switch. it is wired to light only when the headlamps are on and the turn signal lever is in either the right or left flash position. . i am not sure if the standard MFL is pre wired for the cornering lights, but i would take a test light or voltmeter and poke around the wiring harnesses near the lights to see if i can find two wires that are only constantly hot when the headlamp and either the left or right hand flashers are on. if you cannot find one you can either build a timing circuit , or go to a junkyard and look for any 1980 -1990 for crown victoria or grand marquis or 1980-1989 lincoln town car that has cornering lamps and pull the two bi-metal thermal cornering lamp relays located under the dashboard. they are little aluminum cylinders which are about 1 1/4" inch in diameter and about 1 1/2" inches tall. they look exactly like a turn signal flasher from the era. there will be two of them attached to the same bolt to the metal frame under the dashboard. the mounting tab acts as a ground connection. take both relays, and the plugs. when you cut the wiring leave enough extra wire for you to be able to work with on your car. the relay has 3 terminals and the outer metal shell is the ground connection. i cannot remember the exact wiring but one terminal requires a steady 12v power source to drive the lamps, one is the input which is tapped into the turn signal wire for the appropriate side of the car. the final terminal is the output to the cornering lamp. i used a nut and bolt along with a wire with a ring terminal to join both modules together and the wire with ring terminal provides the ground connection. the way i figured out which terminal did what was to use a pair of pliers to carefully pry off the cover of one relay and looked at where the wires went to . the input signal from the turn signal wiring is the terminal where it becomes a tiny wire wrapped around a piece of metal. this wire is a "heater" which heats the metal it is wrapped around. the metal it is wrapped around is connected to one of the other terminals. the relay works by using the bi-metal effect by taking the pulsing 12v of the turn signal input wiring and using it to heat a piece of bi-metal (which can be the in or output terminal) which expands due to the heat and makes contact with the other terminal thus turning on the cornering lamp.the cornering lamp will have a delay of about 1-4 seconds after the turn signal is turned off because it take a bit of time for the bi-metal to cool and contract , thus breaking the circuit to the cornering lamp.....
hope this helps
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