Classic Chevy Truck Wiring Question






tadeo72

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#1
My son has a 1964 Chevy C10 pickup. The driver's side front turn signal/parking light went out. We changed the bulb, but that didn't work. We think it's the parking light socket itself that is the problem. So we ordered a new socket, but it has a black and white wire coming out of it. The old (we think it's the original) socket has three wires coming out of it, a light blue and two purple wires. We know that one of the purple wires from the old socket is connected to the passenger-side turn signal. The other purple wire and light blue wire go into the firewall to inside the cab. So my question is: How do we connect this? Do we connect the white wire (from the new socket) to the purple wire that is directly connected to the other turn signal, and then what/how do we connect the black wire (new socket) to the purple and light blue wires? Do we connect all three? Please help as I know nothing about electrical stuff. So basically, I have a new socket that has a black and white pigtail wire that is 3 inches long coming out of it. I cut the old socket out, leaving me two purple and one light blue wires hanging there. Which wires connect to what? Thanks in advance!
 

Mikeee54

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#2
My guess is truck wiring is for turn signal and parking light. When running lights are on one wire will be hot, when turn is on one wire will flash hot/off. Third wire may continue/connect running lights from left to right side or could be ground. Use a 12v test light or ohm meter to identify each wires function. The ground is usually not a separate wire but grounded through the bulbs housing and screw connection to the vehicle. But that is easily determined through testing.

If you have the correct replacement light/socket one wire would produce a brighter light than the other wire. Connect the brighter wire to turn and weaker light to running.
 

Gullwing

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#3
Before replacing anything, make sure you have voltage to the socket.

Two of one and one of another color, I would say the two are both hot and the single is ground. So connect the two to the black and single to white.
 

tadeo72

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#5
Boy, do I feel stupid. First, let me say THANK YOU for the help and the diagram! So my son put his multimeter to the connector, which showed 12.2. Now we know it's not the connector. I ensured the flat copper springs inside the connector were clean and sticking up to make contact. I looked again at the two bulbs we tried preplacing with and we noticed that the two prongs on each bulb looked a bit worn. The filaments looked good. Being the cheap person I am, I never throw away parts from vehicles. Instead of just buying new bulbs, I grabbed two very old ones that I had saved from other projects years ago but never threw away. So, a quick trip to the parts store and a few bucks later, PROBLEM SOLVED! Thanks y'all! I'm going to go back to my cave now.