Side marker light surprise...

[HIGHWAY BY THE SEA]

As strange is this may seem I just recently discovered that my 68 has never had side marker lights . It has the actual reflector devices but there are no lights installed in them . Even though these lights are not required by state law I want them for obvious safety reasons . I ordered a set of the light sockets from LMC but need a schematic to install them properly. Can anyone on here post a really good idiot proof schematic for me ?

[BIG69GMC]

I would think you should be able to tap into your other front signal harness using good and weather proof connections. ofcourse this would cause them to flash when you use your turn signals. Im not sure if thats the operation your looking for?

[Sillyoldman]

Originally Posted by BIG69GMC

I would think you should be able to tap into your other front signal harness using good and weather proof connections. ofcourse this would cause them to flash when you use your turn signals. Im not sure if thats the operation your looking for?

Or tap into the marker light wire for a constant. It should be easy to identify with a wire test light.

[HIGHWAY BY THE SEA]

I was considering that but then I looked at the wiring schematic on my 81 C10 and it requires all kinds of power wires that run all sidemarkers together and share common ground wires. I figured that the 68 might like we use a similar setup . I do not want them to flash when I signal . Was it normal for these trucks to not have side marker lights installed in them ?

[BIG69GMC]

yes its normal. Im not exactly sure which years had them, im thinking the "newer models" like 71/72 had them? i know the first years did not. You could just tap into each nearest marker light and test with a test light to make sure they stay constant power when you have your signals on. You would have to wire each socket into each corner harness and that should be all. You wouldnt have to worry about running grounds for each one or connecting them all together. You would have to play with one to get it figured out then you would know what to do on all the others. Hope this helps get you started. Seems alot more complicated than what it really is.

[magwakeenercew2jh]

Make these larger.

If you can't, get the big one from the Forum download or PM me...I can't send a big one using the Forum.

Obviously, you don't have to go all the way back to the HL Switch....Just find the right (correct) wire, and, "Tally Ho!"

[BIG69GMC]

Nice Job Mag!

[68c10airstream]

Hey highway by the sea, just checked my stock 68 c10 and wire the side markers the way gm designed them to operate: Headlight switch off, turn signals on/ 4 way flasher the side markers turn on at the same time, headlight switch pulled out, side markers are off when the turn signal lights up, then when the turn signal light turns off the side marker turns on. The lesson here is if wired this way always make sure the front park/turn signal bulbs work properly before repairing the side markers. I believe gm did this to get the attention of people to avoid accidents as alternating lights between side markers flashing and turn signals flashing is really hard not to notice. If you want me to check for sure i can later as i'm tired and going to bed, wife and i have worked on our house for days on end to get ready for winter! Good luck, Brian F.

[Mister-B]

It's normal for a '68 to be reflector only. My '69 came the same way from the factory, and I think it's cool. If I remember, they started lighting late in the model year of '69. Keep in mind that the reflector only are just that. They reflect when a car's lights shine on them, so it's not like you're a complete sitting duck

[Andy4639]

For the 71 model the front side lights flash but the rear do not. Factory.

68 was the first year with side markers reflector's and no lights. 69 was reflectors unless you ordered the truck with the lights. Most trucks didn't have the lights ordered. Later years they were required to have them.

[jmorri34]

Ok I just got done doing this exact same thing. Now I did not want my sidemarkers to blink but just wanted to have them on as solid side markers. All you have to do is when you get the pigtails they will have 2 wires. It does not matter which wire you use but all you have to do is tap into the front blinker lights in the grill. Now on the front blinker there is a solid posetive and a blinking posetive, tap into the solid posetive with one pigtail wire and the other goes to ground. On the backs you can do the same exact thing, just tap into the solid side of the rear brake light and the other goes to ground. Mine is done this way and works perfectly, no electrical issue or anything and they are on solid when you pull the headlight switch on. Super easy!

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by 68c10airstream

I believe gm did this to get the attention of people to avoid accidents as alternating lights between side markers flashing and turn signals flashing is really hard not to notice.

The alternating lights were used to minimize the current flow through the lightest duty component (typically the headlamp switch).

Having both (side marker and turn) on at the same time increases current flow, heat and therefore decreases the durability of the components.

K

[73737373]

Fed Hiway Trans Safety Board mandated side reflectors only on 68 model trucks. Did not have to be illuminated until 1969.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by 73737373

Fed Hiway Trans Safety Board mandated side reflectors only on 68 model trucks. Did not have to be illuminated until 1969.

Thanks for the input.

I knew '69 was the first year for Federally mandated side marker lights for passenger car but wasn't sure about trucks.

K

[Mister-B]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Thanks for the input.

I knew '69 was the first year for Federally mandated side marker lights for passenger car but wasn't sure about trucks.

K

It's not quite that simple. Depends on when in' 69 the truck was built. Mine was an early 69 build and doesn't have lit markers. No wiring or evidence of wiring at all

[HIGHWAY BY THE SEA]

Thanks for all the fantastic help with this issue ! I have the front ones hooked up and they work perfectly with the blinking like was described on here. I just wired up the right rear one and I am lacking the wire splices to do the left one tonight . This normally would not have taken so long but I broke my hand recently and I've had to do this mostly one handed .

[HIGHWAY BY THE SEA]

Now I just need to figure out how to keep the rear marker lights from going out when the headlights are on and the brake pedal is engaged . Damn!

[73737373]

Good Lord, I know what you're talking about....chasing blinker/brake/parking/dash light gremlins myself.... NEVER fun.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by HIGHWAY BY THE SEA

Now I just need to figure out how to keep the rear marker lights from going out when the headlights are on and the brake pedal is engaged . Damn!

Sounds like a grounding issue.

Whenever I ask the electrical guys for help that's always the first thing they say.

K

[K20chevy]

Originally Posted by HIGHWAY BY THE SEA

Now I just need to figure out how to keep the rear marker lights from going out when the headlights are on and the brake pedal is engaged . Damn!

you probably tapped into the light circuit with one wire of the side marker and to the brake turn with the other like you did up front. That is why they go off when you hit the brake. The rear needs to be wired different than the front.

FRONT: One side marker wire to the parking light wire, the other to the turn signal. When you turn the flasher son, no headlights, the ground goes through the parking lights. When you turn your parking lights on, no turn signal, the ground of the side marker goes through the turn signal wire. When you have parking lights on AND turns on, the front turn signal takes the ground away when it flashes, hence the marker goes off...

REAR: you need to get one side marker wire tapped into the parink lights, the other needs to go to the ground, so that they only work with the parking lights and have a constant ground.

Hope that helped!