Tenacious James

Can anyone think of any reason why my gauge lights would've stopped working after I put my original head lights back on? And, yes, I've checked the fuses. I had to kind of guess how the were supposed to be wired. They work like they're supposed to, although the blinkers now seem to flash at a higher frequency now.

Here's what was installed previously (by previous owner) in the photos:

jdbaugh1

iTrader: (1)

Are your tail-lights and side marker lights working? I'm guessing you blew the clearance light fuse which is tied to the dash cluster lights. The headlight circuit is separate.

Tenacious James

Okay thanks, I'll check that out as soon as I get a chance.

Tenacious James

Well, there was no clearance light fuse. So I just started checking them all systemically and the DRL fuse, Back up lights fuse and parking lights fuse was blown, lol. Replaced them but, still no gauge lights. So I don't know what to do now.

jdbaugh1

iTrader: (1)

Are your tail lights working? Not brakes but night running clearance/parking lights. Check and see if your fuse blew again. You may still have a short.

Tenacious James

Yep, my parking lights fuse keeps blowing. You sure it couldn't have anything to do my head lights being slightly mis-wired?

Tenacious James

Also, I used these types of connectors to wire them back together:

https://images.crutchfieldonline.com...69PP611-f.jpeg

jdbaugh1

iTrader: (1)

It could for damn sure have something to do with your headlight assembly being miswired. More specifically it would appear at least one of the hot wires (driver or passenger side) that goes to your clearance/parking lamp bulb in the headlight assembly is shorting to ground or through something else. I don't know what to tell you about those adapters and if they are right or not. If could be the adapter is routed wrong or you have a wire pinched against the car body causing it to ground out. I would pull the headlight assembly and trace the wire to make sure it is routed right. Disconnect whatever is plugged in to the clearance/parking light connector and verify that your problem goes away which will indicate the issue is on the headlight harness end of the connector.

Tenacious James

Here is how they are currently wired:

jdbaugh1

iTrader: (1)

I'd recommend some proper shrink-tube type waterproof crimp connectors. That wiring looks pretty scetchy. Shouldn't need electrical tape on a crimp connector. Also I would never use wire nuts for automotive wiring. Just asking for a loose wire, corrosion, and a bad connection which can make it heat up and melt.

Wiring criticism aside maybe check the wire nut with 3 wires going into it. I can't tell the wire color in the picture but I would guess all the ground wires are black and there should be a shared ground between the headlight and turn signal/clearance light. I would use a multimeter or test light with 12V power supply to see what is what. The headlight assembly makes sense. There is a single ground with the orange and pink wire being individual power wires for high and low beams. The clearance light assembly with 5 wires is harder for me to guess what each is for. There should be at least a ground and an individual hot wire for both clearance and turn signal function. Not sure what the other two wires are for just looking at it. I don't think two separate wires would be connected together though like you have with the wire nut.

Tenacious James

Okay, I feel like an idiot. I just realized I don't even have the center marker/clearance bulbs or the connectors for one. I tried to find a whole new wiring harness for them, but the only ones I can find say they're for the '05-'08 cobalt. But I think that might be incorrect.

Dorman 645-205 Pigtail Connector-Headlight

Slowbalt2000

iTrader: (1)

You can probably just get those headlamp wiring harnesses at a junk yard pretty cheap.

Tenacious James

Well, I got some good news and some bad news. I got my wiring harnesses today, installed them, used the LEDs from the aftermarket lights for clearance lights. The good news is that my gauge lights are back on! The bad news, front blinkers don't work, they're just on all the time with the headlights! FML! Maybe these are incorrect for 09-10. The center clearance lights don't come on at all however. Oh, and the rear clearance lights are doing a weird blinky thing. Maybe the LEDs are bad. Thinking whomever did the shoddy job installing the aftermarket lights may have really
F'd things up.

Tenacious James

Well, I checked them out again this morning. Now when I turn the blinkers on (either right or left) both my front blinkers flash. I'm starting to think there could be something wrong with my BCM. Any thoughts?

Tenacious James

Yeah, my blinkers are working like hazards, I'll lights flashing. I've checked all the fuses, they're fine. Gonna try getting rid of all the LEDs and put new regular bulbs in, see if that makes a difference. Wish me luck.

Tenacious James

Yay! I finally have normal working headlights. In my ignorance I thought I could simply use the led turn signal and marker lights from the aftermarket ones. I have now learned that do not work with factory incandescent lamps.