95 Suburban Light Problem

[CEPruitt]

I am a rookie at this so i was looking for some help. I have a 95 Suburban 1500, 4x4. At the moment I have headlights, blinkers, reverse, all other lights work except for the parking lights all the way around. I went to the store to see if I could buy the pigtail (harness) and the switch and it was close to 200.00 for both. I know that I can get the switch on ebay, ad with the holidays and all I would rather do something with the money for the family if I can do a quick fix for now. Is it possible to pigtail the tail lights into the headlights for now? If so, my manuals do not have the correct diagrams would anyone know the wire colors for them. If this is a bad idea let me know. Like I said I am trying to learn some of the simple things so any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you,
CP

[J-Ri]

Originally Posted by CEPruitt

I am a rookie at this so i was looking for some help. I have a 95 Suburban 1500, 4x4. At the moment I have headlights, blinkers, reverse, all other lights work except for the parking lights all the way around. I went to the store to see if I could buy the pigtail (harness) and the switch and it was close to 200.00 for both. I know that I can get the switch on ebay, ad with the holidays and all I would rather do something with the money for the family if I can do a quick fix for now. Is it possible to pigtail the tail lights into the headlights for now? If so, my manuals do not have the correct diagrams would anyone know the wire colors for them. If this is a bad idea let me know. Like I said I am trying to learn some of the simple things so any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you,
CP

Welcome to AF

I personally would not splice the parking lights into the headlight circuit. It may not cause a problem, but often times the fuses are meant for only what the engineers put there. The extra bulbs may overload the fuse.

Since you said yourself that you are a rookie, I'm going to ask... Did you check the bulbs? Check all fuses and the output from the light switch. Make sure the sockets aren't burnt/melted. Check for ground to all the sockets.

[CEPruitt]

Rookie would be an understatement compared to the experience of some of you guys on here, I really do not have any experience except the basics like changing oil, rotating tires that kind of thing. I have checked the all the fuses, and there was no problem there. The bulbs I haven't checked but the reason being is that first everything went out at once, and it happened several weeks ago. When it happened then, I checked the switch and everything seemed ok. I thought that it was something loose in the switch because just by moving the wires a little would make the lights flicker. My biggest problem is that the truck is in very good shape. I have had it now for about 4 years with hardly a problem. In the past year I have started having simple things go like the power locks on a door or a window not working. Once I started paying attention to certain things especially the electrical stuff I realized that the truck had been butchered. the guy that had it before had a lighted visor put on, different horns, lights and he had just cut and put it where he wanted.

Anyway, how would I test the switch and the sockets? What would I need to do this?

Thanks for the reply. I appreciate the help.

CEP

[glewis]

I have a 94 Burb that had a similar problem. finally all the lights would not work. it turned out to be the light switch on the dashboard. easy fix and it was relatively cheap. pop out the switch unit, unplug it and reverse with the new switch.

[J-Ri]

Originally Posted by CEPruitt

Anyway, how would I test the switch and the sockets? What would I need to do this?

To test the swich, you will need only a test light and possibly the tools to remove the switch.

Connect the test light to ground and backprobe (stick the sharp end of the test light into the back of the connector) the connector (leaving it plugged in). You should have power to one wire all the time. One should have power in the parking light and headlight position, and one should have power only in the headlight position. I don't know offhand if the dimmer switch is part of the headlight switch, but you may have more than three wires.