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Joe Pro · Oct 29, 2008

So I figured Id ask you,
I wana add some marker lights to the front of my sierra, i think it would be neat if they were wired up to the running lights so they would work with the turn signal.

So ant how there is three wires going to my running light, obisould one is a ground one is for the running lihgt and one for the turn signals, can I splice into these two how wires and run them together to a 1 wire marker light. My dad said the bulbs may not last long,

but can I take the turn signal wire and the running light wire and run them together into one wire to power a light?

Thanks alot

IH2444 · Oct 29, 2008

I don't think you can't wire em together you will need a 2 element bulb. one element for the maker light and one for turn.

old · Oct 29, 2008

You will need either double element bulbs or 2 bulbs. If you try to wire it like your thinking right now you will have all sorts of funny things happen including blown fuses and maybe other thing that could cost you big $$ to fix
Hobby farm

NcNE · Oct 29, 2008

Just a thought but you might want to check your local laws to make sure it'd be legal to have such lights. I know around my hometown the police get kinda sticky when it comes to lighting

Janicholson · Oct 29, 2008

use LED marker, turn lights. They will not load the circuits. Keep them seperate to prevent grief. JimN

Jim H SW-PA · Oct 29, 2008

My bumper poles on my 95 S-10) are wired by both wires coming from the turn signal, the one wire on the parking light side goes on one wire and the other side will go to the side marker light. This will make the light work all the time with parking lights on and alternate when you turn on the turn signals.[ same as your side marker light]

I had an older Ford I had running board lights on, 5 lights on each side the last light was red so I had the front first ones and the red ones hooked in the same way they also worked with the turn signals.

If you have a third brake light you will have to wire all yours from the front [parking/turn signals]to keep from getting into wiring problems

Joe Pro · Oct 29, 2008

So do you think if I get some dual filament bulbs I can run the 2 wires into one?

Here's a drawing its pretty crude, I have much knowledge about electricity etc but I'm still learning

Joe Pro · Oct 29, 2008

Its fine as long as they are amber and not red

dave guest · Oct 29, 2008

Don't forget the heavy duty flasher for extra current.

dave guest · Oct 29, 2008

Don't forget the heavy duty flasher for extra current.

Jim H SW-PA · Oct 29, 2008

The picture you show the ground wire on the added light should go to the other hot wire,this only will work from the front lights If you have a third brake light.

The ground wire wont be a true ground till the light is mounted so if you attach the what you say is ground to say the turn signal, and the Hot or POS wire to the parking light side a single filament bulb will work as both parking and turn signal.
Just as posted below use a heavy duty flasher if it blinks too fast. If you have a hitch on the back probably already has one for pulling a trailer.

Joe Pro · Oct 30, 2008

I dont really get what your saying, I would be coming off the front parking light and how would the light cant work without the ground. So how can hooking up the hot and ground wires to a hot circuit work?

Revredneck · Oct 30, 2008

The factory corner lamp is wired "between" the running lights and turn signals. That's how it burns steady with the running lights and flashes with the blinkers. You can wire an additional marker lamp the same way -- 1 wire to the turn signal and the other to the running lights. Remember, your lamp MUST have 2 wires and NOT be a chassis grounded fixture. Just be sure your flasher is able to handle the extra current load and your fuses are of sufficient capacity. A single bulb should not cause any problems with your wiring. HTH
Good Luck and God Bless.

Walt Davies · Oct 30, 2008

With your limited knowledge of how the circuit works for turn and marker lights I would get someone who knows how to wire them in or you could cause some serious damage to the system.
Most of what I read below shows that your helpers don't know much either so take their advice and then go get someone who is an expert on auto electrical systems. there two main types of systems you first need to know how yours is wired them proceed with caution.
Use a light tester to locate each wire by turning on the lights that you want to connect. In other words turn on the parking lights and see what is hot then turn on the signal and see which wire is hot intermittently. Never trust anyone or any thing to just plain luck check each and every wire with the tester. If you can't or don't understand this then quit before you get into trouble.

Walt

Brokenwrench · Oct 30, 2008

If you run it like your diagram shows (good work btw), you will be feeding a constant 12v to the factory turn signal whenever you have the marker lights on, regardless of dual or single element bulbs in your add on.

Ground it wherever you want that is a good ground, but you have to keep the turn signal and marker light circuits seperate all the way to a dual element bulb...

That means three wires- ground
turn signal 12v
marker light 12v

Up under the front of the truck is not the place to use scotch locks, wire nuts, or butt connectors. Either solder and shrink tube your splices, or get the shrink tube butt connectors that you heat up to shrink down and seal the connection.

BW

Joe Pro · Oct 30, 2008

Ok I think I got something figured out The marker lights that i want to add have two wires how and ground, So are you saying that I shoiuld make both of these wires hot with out grounding the light, how can that work also I CAN - CAnt ? stick a dual filiment bublb in that socket and run the wires together right?

Brokenwrench · Oct 30, 2008

Here`s what I think your not following,

You can`t splice the turn signal and marker light wires together. You will backfeed 12v to the turn signal side whenever your marker lights are on.

There are too many different types and styles of add on lights out there to figure out what you have.

You need to know what type of light you have, simply sticking a dual element bulb in a light designed for a single element isn`t gonna do you any good.

I`m assuming you have a single element light with a ground and power wire. If so, you need to get a light that is set up for what you want to do. If your marker light is a dual element type, then yes, both wires are for power and it is grounded thru the fixture. If you ain`t mounting it to metal (plastic grill) then you need to supply a ground to the light..

The bottom line no matter what is you need a good ground, and you have to keep the turn and marker light circuits seperate... BW

rustyj14 · Oct 30, 2008

Give it up, Joe, and go get a local expert to help you! Wiring harnesses cost big bucks, and if you persist in trying this scheme, you'll probably be buying a new wirirng harness! And they aint cheap!

Jim H SW-PA · Oct 30, 2008

Don't ask me I just tried it and it worked.

when you think of it you are wiring the extra light in series with the two other lights.

without the new light, turn on parking lights.-look to see what is on, should be side marker and parking at the same time.

Now leave parking lights on and turn on the turn signal. you will see that the side marker wont be on at the same time the signal in the parking light area is. So when the side light is off it opens the connection and the extra light will be off at the same time as the side marker light.

If you hook it up, as in the email I sent you it will work.
Trust me, my bumper poles are connected that way and the bulb is isolated in a rubber housing.

Jim H SW-PA · Oct 31, 2008

Got that right Rusty !! Guess I can't type English.

Joe Pro · Oct 31, 2008

ok I think I got it partially figured out at least.
The lights I got are single filament with one wire and are chassis grounded but can easily add a ground wire ( which I did as they are mounted on plastic. But these lights wont work at all? I need a light with two hot wires + a ground wire right which would allow me to run the turn signals and parking light all the way to the light separate.
these lights would be dual filament

Now as for the factory side marker is it grounded?? Idk There are only two wires out of this light can someone clearly explain this and I think I got the whole system.

Give me a break I'm only 17 and want to learn, i work best by doing things my self without help

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