The Oldsmobile Connection

[netta johnson]

i love my 1988 delta 88 Royal, Hearse. but latly i have found some electrical bugs. my break lights dont work, and i think its a relay, but dont know where i can find a wireing diagram on the net for *free*. the other night, I bumped the steering colum with my knee, and the right hand turn signal decided to stay on, *sigh*, now my break lights dont work.....again. I wonder if its a relay, or a short or something to do with the ground on the battery.....any clues would be a big help, as this car is my pride and joy, and my beauty ride .....(puts me in a great mood)


:( help

[strokercutlass]

netta, when you bumped the steering column and the turn signal stayed on, i'm assuming you hit the turn signal switch? and is this when your problems began? What may have happened is that if/when you hit the switch, you damaged the turn signal switch, or burned out a fuse. Generally, the power from the brake switch goes thru the turn signal switch, so the switch can designate which taillight flashes, and which stays on solid. If you have the solid red lenses, and not the red brake lenses and amber rear turn signal lenses, I'd have to venture a guess that this might be your problem. The only way to replace the switch is to pull the steering wheel, unplug the turn signal switch wiring from under the dash, pull the switch and fish the wires up thru the column, and replace it. If you could give us some more details, it would be great! The brake lights generally dont run off a relay, they're powered from the fuse box on a full time 12 volt circuit, then thru the stoplight switch, which, when stepped on, sends power thru the turn signal switch and to both taillights. If the turn signal switch is moved to either the left or right position, power is directed from the stop light switch to the opposite side as the light flashing, to keep that brake light on solid,and the side that the switch is turned to is powered from the turn signal flasher, thereby making that light flash. The fuse box is ususally located under the drivers side of the dash by your feet, and there should be a fuse marked stop lights. Check that fuse to see if its burned out, and if not, i'd suspect the turn signal switch, since it seems your problems started when you hit the column ( switch). If you need anything further, DONT be afraid to ask!!!!