wiring a 2 wire bulb into the 3 wire front parking light

[raltz]

hello, i searched online and couldn't find anything that could answer my question...

i have a 73 240z and recently placed a front air dam off a 74 260z, so now my front parking lights won't fit...

im having trouble trying to find 260z front parking lights (the ones that are located by the grill) so i went to my local autoparts store and got some rectangular shaped amber lights...

the only problem is those new amber lights i got only have 2 wires, and original has 3 wires...

does anyone know how to re-wire my new bulbs so they're on when my headlights are on and also blink when i signal...

thank you

[Arne]

Do they have dual filament bulbs? If not, it can't be done, you'll need different lights.

[FastWoman]

Perhaps wire the bulb to the parking light circuit. Then wire the blinker wire to a relay that interrupts power to that circuit. If you want the lights to dim when they flash, instead of going out completely, then bypass the relay contacts with a very low value power resistor. Or maybe you can use a DPDT relay to run the two lights in series to ground when they are to dim.

I believe there are also adapters to convert between car tail light wiring and trailer tail lights. I don't know what's available, but check with your local RV dealer.

[zKars]

Hey Raltz! how's it going, eh? Still working on the project I see!

You cannot accomplish your requirement with that two-connection bulb without additional circuitry.

Instead you should put the original two filiment, 3 wire bulb with its stock wiring (should have enough wire to reach) into the socket of your new light housing. No wiring to do.

I think I have a set of 260/280 signal lights if you get really stuck...

Edited October 5, 2011 by zKars

[LeonV]

Or, you can just put on a 240Z/early 260Z air dam and be done with it...

[EScanlon]

Perhaps wire the bulb to the parking light circuit. Then wire the blinker wire to a relay that interrupts power to that circuit. If you want the lights to dim when they flash, instead of going out completely, then bypass the relay contacts with a very low value power resistor. Or maybe you can use a DPDT relay to run the two lights in series to ground when they are to dim.

I believe there are also adapters to convert between car tail light wiring and trailer tail lights. I don't know what's available, but check with your local RV dealer.

Sarah: You're not seriously suggesting this Rube Goldberg contraption instead of the simpler solutions already given?

Especially if you note that the OP is asking about converting a 2 wire bulb socket into a 3 wire socket... which would be pretty hard to do....

E

[Walter Moore]

His new amber fixtures only have a 2 wire socket, at least that is how he described the units that he bought.

The relay would work, but generally relays have a finite life based on the number of cycles, along with a maximum cyclical rate. (Long winded engineer speak for you would have to replace the relays too often to make this practical.)

But note that Sarah was only the second person to comment on the thread.

I think Raltz needs to return the generic lights for credit and get something more appropriate.

[Arne]

People, there is the possibility that the 2-wire lights might be proper dual filament lights, but that the ground has no wire, the lamp being intended to be grounded by its mount to steel body. That was why I asked what I did, and only that. Until we know that bit of info, all speculation is moot.

If the bulbs are dual filament, and you need to mount the lights on the air dam, a separate ground wire will be needed to connect the metal base of the lamp to the metal body of the car.

If the bulbs are single filament, I second the recommendation to return them and buy something more suitable.