Wiring up new headlights, can't figure out how to make this work

[siggyfreud]

Hey all,

Went to wire up some new headlights today. They're HID lights, with an outer halo. Got the headlights themselves working, but I'm getting stuck on the switchback wiring. Essentially, the outer white halo acts as a DRL, but when I use a turn signal, it switches and flashes amber, then goes back white when it's not a turn signal. Wiring for the switchback is as follows:

Black Wire - Ground
White wire - Dim halo 50% power - Park lights on mode
Red Wire - Full halo 100% power - Daytime Running Light (ignition on power)
Yellow Wire - Turn signal power



So here is the problem:

1. At first, I wired it to the turn signal wires that fed the original front turn signals. However, those wires have a constant 5.5v when park lights are on, which was keeping the amber halo active. Technically, one wire has 12v with park lights on, the turn signal feed wire then gets 5.5v.

2. Second, I tried going right from the column turn signal wires, however, I then realized the front ambers were coming on when I depressed the brakes, as the brake circuit runs through the column wires, then out to the rear.

I'm not sure I have a solution here. I've looked at all the turn signal power sources and they all seem to carry a steady 5.5v when the park lights are engaged and jump to 12v with the "flash" of the turn signal. Anyone have any suggestions here?

[starterman99]

First thought would be a ground issue causing a feedback in the rear tail light assembly.

[siggyfreud]

As in that's the reason for the 5.5V in the turn signal circuit when park lights are on? If so, what do you suggest? There are no separate grounding wires back there since one is park light power, and the other turn signal power.

[starterman99]

Resistance on the ground side of tail light housing to the bed or bed to frame would feed back thru turn bulb.
I would pull the bulbs out of the rear lights one at a time and see if the 5.5 goes away. that would tell you what side to look at. if turn and park lights are in common housing in front I would also pull those bulbs to find where the feedback is coming from. Once you narrow it to source then you can work on resolving that.

[siggyfreud]

So the first bulb I pulled, driver side front park/turn light, killed the 5.5v to that circuit. I'm not sure how to resolve it though. How do I better-ground that light with the 2 wires coming from it both being power?

[rpmerf]

Yes, better ground. It grounds through the housing. Look how the hosing connects to the body, and make sure the contacts are clean.

[starterman99]

I have also seen bad connection between the bulb holder and the housing. Also check to make sure you have the right bulb.A single element bulb crammed into double element socket will cause feed back.