parking light on all the time

SCOBRAC · #1 (**permalink**) 06-03-2006, 11:37 PM

My front left parking light has come on and won't shut off. The lights are off and both filiments of the bulb are lit up. The left turn sinal isn't working either (front or rear).

I have had my Contemporary 4 years and aside from a minor ground issue have had no electrical problems so I can't say this is in any way related to any systemic problem. Any Ideas?

Michael C Henry · #2 (**permalink**) 06-04-2006, 12:19 AM

Check all the other lamps for filaments that have fallen out of place and shorted and grounds for bypass and backfeed, Ask yourself what has been done to the car on or about the time this all started? An errant screw or pinched harness.

strictlypersonl · #3 (**permalink**) 06-04-2006, 04:16 AM

Yes - it sounds like feedback from a bad ground somewhere. Is there a common ground that's shared by the light and something else?

mrmustang · #4 (**permalink**) 06-04-2006, 05:31 AM

Replace both the front and rear bulbs and you will be back to normal. One of the filiments has burned out and is causing this problem. Quite common on most early Fords (mustangs in my case).

Bill S.

strictlypersonl · #5 (**permalink**) 06-04-2006, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmustang

Replace both the front and rear bulbs and you will be back to normal. One of the filiments has burned out and is causing this problem. Quite common on most early Fords (mustangs in my case).

Bill S.

But SCOBRAC says that his lights are on all the time, so the power source must come from outside the light circuit.

HighPlainsDrifter · #6 (**permalink**) 06-04-2006, 01:53 PM

Hi,
If you have a column with 4 way flashers check the flasher ckt or the flasher unit on the fuse panel also.
Perry.

SCOBRAC · #7 (**permalink**) 06-04-2006, 11:37 PM

Thanks guys. I think you are (all) right. Nothing had been changed to cause the problem, with the exception of a long drive. I think the filiment grounding out somehow has created the problem and will change all the bulbs and the flasher unit. It should be mentioned that the left side blinkers are not working but the right side are. The blinkers on this contemporary are "hot" all the time and work whether the key is on or not. I've seen this randomly occur on various european cars and some 1960's US cars and figured it was something pretty common. Thanks again!