No running lights not working?

Tiny
ROBERSON3644
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 BUICK CENTURY
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 276,342 MILES
My brake lights and everything work fine. But my running lights will not turn on. I've changed fuses, traced the wires. I'm at a loss. Do I just need a new fuse box?
Thursday, August 1st, 2019 AT 9:13 AM

33 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,170 POSTS
Welcome to 2CarPros.

It's unlikely the fuse box is bad. Do me a favor. I attached a small portion of a wiring schematic. Reconfirm the fuse is good (power to both sides) and check the parking light relay.

If you have another relay with the same part number, just switch them to see if that makes a difference.

Here are a few links you may find helpful. Remember, a fuse can look good and be bad. That is why you need to check for power to both sides of it or remove it and check for continuity.

______________________

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-an-electrical-relay-and-wiring-control-circuit

______________________

If the fuses are good, I suspect it is the relay. Let me know what you find or if you have other questions.

Take care,

Joe
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Thursday, August 1st, 2019 AT 9:38 PM
Tiny
ELDAVO
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2001 BUICK CENTURY
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 227,000 MILES
I have a 2001 Buick century custom. I have no rear 'running' lights however my turn signal and brake lights are fine. I located and tested the 'dimmer' fuse and do not have any power going to the fuse panel. Any thoughts or advice on how to fix and what I would need to do to fix it?

Thank you
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Friday, May 21st, 2021 AT 3:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,870 POSTS
Have you checked your parking light fuse yet? Here is a guide to help you check the fuse and the fuse location and running light wiring diagrams so you can see how the system works below:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

Check out the diagrams (below). Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem.

Cheers
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Friday, May 21st, 2021 AT 3:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ELDAVO
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Yes, I checked and replaced fuses and it fixed two of the problems I was having the running lights now work, and the instrument panel illumination lights also now work. (They went out about a month ago, and I checked all the fuses then but It must not have been burned out completely since they went at separate times). Thank you very much Saturntech9, and hopefully me explaining this may help someone else as well! They are working now, thanks again!
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Friday, May 21st, 2021 AT 3:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,870 POSTS
You are welcome. That is what were here for. Glad to hear you got it fixed.
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Friday, May 21st, 2021 AT 3:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ROBERSON3644
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
My running lights in my 2003 Buick Century dont work, but every other light does and I cannot seem to find the fuse slot for it. I just replaced the wheel hub assembly and the ignition lock cylinder. I'm not really trying to spend anymore. Can anybody help me?
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Friday, May 21st, 2021 AT 3:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,878 POSTS
Hello,

There is a parking lot relay that needs to be checked. here is a guide to show you how with the relay location and the running light wiring diagrams so you can see how the system works:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-an-electrical-relay-and-wiring-control-circuit

Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.
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Friday, May 21st, 2021 AT 3:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ROBERSON3644
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Okay, I'll give it a shot. Thank you!
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Friday, May 21st, 2021 AT 3:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,878 POSTS
Please let us know what you find.
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Friday, May 21st, 2021 AT 3:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PURPLEGROG
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
  • 1994 BUICK CENTURY
When the headlights are turned on, the rear tail lights will not. Also, the interior lights that illuminate the speedometer, etc will not come on. Additionally when the signal stalk is turned to make a right hand turn, the signal light turns on solid. Both the front and rear signals will light up solid for the right turn. Hazards work fine, as does the left turn. I've checked all fuses in the glove box and they all look fine. Suggestions?
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Friday, May 21st, 2021 AT 3:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Did you find a tail lamp fuse? The circuit for that fuse, should be hot all the time. You can use a testlite on the fuse, there is usually a bare spot over each fuse leg, where you can check for voltage without removing the fuse. You can check the circuit by removing the fuse,but, only one leg will be hot, if you leave the fuse plugged in, both legs should be hot. This guide will help with the fuse locations in the diagrams below.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.
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Friday, May 21st, 2021 AT 3:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PURPLEGROG
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
I believe I found the tail lamp fuse, but unfortunately the fuse prevents me from accessing it with a volt meter. If I pull the fuse and put the probes from the voltmeter in, then hit the brake, the voltmeter shows a solid 12 volts.
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Friday, May 21st, 2021 AT 3:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PURPLEGROG
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
I took a photo with the camera on my cell phone. sorry for the lack of detail; I couldn't get my actual camera to focus that close


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/301701_IMG00053_1.jpg

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Friday, May 21st, 2021 AT 3:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PURPLEGROG
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Another bit that may or may not be helpful is the fact that while the headlights do turn on, the front running lights do not
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Friday, May 21st, 2021 AT 3:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Hi, in your first post, you talked about tail-lites. The tail-lites are activated by the headlamp switch. The brake lites are activated by the brake switch, when you hit the brake pedal. They are controlled by different fuse circuits.

Right now, I'm not sure if your having trouble with the tail- lites or brake lites? Sometimes when there are multiple problems, you can pick one circuit and troubleshoot.
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Friday, May 21st, 2021 AT 3:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PURPLEGROG
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Good point. The problem is with the tail light, front running lights and interior lights. As far as I can tell the brake lights work
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Friday, May 21st, 2021 AT 3:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
I looked at your picture, if there is a fuse that says( tail), that should be it. You can pull the fuse and use the meter in series on the circuit terminals, voltage setting. With everything turned off, if that circuit went to ground, the meter would show system voltage. It shouldn't show that with everything turned off.

You could use chassic ground for your meter, the positive lead on the circuit leg, one at a time, see if anything is hot?
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Friday, May 21st, 2021 AT 3:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PURPLEGROG
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Ok, so I believe I've fixed the running lights problem, but the turn signal problem remains. For the running lights, I took apart the switch for the headlights/running lights, and discovered the rocker from the switch wasn't pressing down the electrical contacts far enough to make a connection. Ultimately I need to replace the switch, but for now a plastic shim placed between the rocker and the exterior wall of the switch seems to be doing the trick. As for the turn signal, that problem remains. Any suggestions on that?
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Friday, May 21st, 2021 AT 3:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
I'd probably look at the turn signal switch. You probably have an air-bag in the steering wheel, because of the safety issue and forum rules. I can't talk about the air-bag.
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Friday, May 21st, 2021 AT 3:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PURPLEGROG
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
I'm not sure what I did, but the turn signal issue seems to have fixed itself. I took the tail light assembly off and I guess the jarring motion fixed a short or a loose connection because now it's working. Thanks again for your assistance.
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Friday, May 21st, 2021 AT 3:29 PM (Merged)

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