Front Turn Signal Wiring (Solved!)
 

Hello all:

I'm installing directional turn signal mirrors and the instructions call for tapping the wires off the SJB leading to the front turn signal wiring. The instructions state that the wiring for the turn signals are "dark blue with orange stripe" for passenger side mirror, and "gray wire with black stripe" for the drivers side mirror:

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/themust...8007197fa7.png
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/themust...09037c0110.png

I pulled my SJB and followed the instructions, but I DO NOT HAVE ANY WIRES THAT MATCH THESE COLORS. This isn't the first time this has happened to me - I couldn't tap into my backup lights or my power trunk release for the same reason - none of the wire colors appeared to match what I could find online. I'm guessing that 2005 must have had some sort of weirdo wiring harness before they were standardized?

Anyone have any idea as to what color of wire I should be looking for to tap into the front turn signals? A map of a 2005 SJB plug maybe? I could trace the pin assignments if I knew what they were.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Just an idea but why not go to the indicators themselves and see what the wire colours are at the light bulb plug harness. Then trace it back to the SJB or just tap it there.
Have you checked the online workshop manuals?

Hi VGM! Yes, that's plan B if no one has an answer. Was hoping not to have to run a bunch of new wires if I didn't have to. I already did that with the reverse lights (ran a wire all the way inside the trunk) and wanted to not repeat the effort. :)

You could also use a test light. Just turn one blinker on and stick the test light into the wires coming out of that one connector. When the light blinks you will know what wire you need to use. Then repeat the process for the other side blinker light.

I totally forgot about the test light thing. That is a good idea JimB.

Hey Mrkabc what I meant was see what colour of wire it is at the indicator and then look for it at the SJB so you wouldn't have to run wires. I know what you mean though. It is a pain in the butt to run new wires all the time.
Good luck! :)

Hi Jim! I didn't do a test light since the plug is on the backside of the SJB, and to pull out the SJB required removing the front two harnesses. I have the battery disconnected to avoid damaging the SJB.

Do you know if the wiring leaving the SJB goes straight to the signal bulbs? If so I can run a continuity checker to ID the wires.

I am not sure. I would think that if you had continuity then that would be just as good as a test light. I am not very good with electricity and that is why I would be using a test light. Kind of dummy proof.

The forward lamp harness plugs into the underhood fuse block. From there it goes to the sjb.

Ho Hobojack! Same wire colors? Or do I need to test continuity at the fuse block?

Mrkabc could you take a picture of your SJB and the wire harness.. want to see all the colours there cause the wire diagram for the 2005 says its suppose to be:

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/themust...2a3f2e44da.png

Hi VGM:

Here's what I have - note that I used the correct plug as shown above. There are only two blue wires - one a pale blue with a kind of yellowish stripe, and a nice dark blue wire with a white stripe. Here are the pix:
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/themust...2464c47f53.png
This is the correct plug off the SJB according to the above picture. Note that the FOURTH plug (to the right) appears to have the wire that I am looking for.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/themust...679cf7e68a.png
This is a close up of the wires coming off the third plug. Note that I tried the two wires all the way to the right with no success. The coloring is close but there is no turn signal voltage present.

And, it gets better! I pulled the plugs at the drivers and passengers side lamp housings to see if there were any different colors of wires present at the plug I could reference... AND... they are what they are supposed to be:
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/themust...3c89123002.png
Blue and orange here
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/themust...9f9bcc766b.png
Gray and black here

All I can think of is that I got some bastard wiring harness between the SJB and the master fuse block under the hood with different wires. Maybe if I could find a pinout for the plug into the SJB I could figure out which wire color it is? Otherwise, I'll have to strip each wire to test, a prospect that doesn't really appeal to me. Since the pins are so small, I don't know if I can actually test for continuity between this SJB plug and the wires at the light housings.

Any ideas?

A test light has a point. You can just push it into each wire until you find the one that makes the test light blink like the turn signal does. It just makes a small hole in the coating.

Thank you Jim, VGM, and Hobojack! I figured it out. The directions are wrong! If you look at the original graphic I posted, it says to disconnect the third plug ("J3") and look for the wires. It's actually the FOURTH plug ("J4") at the end. If you look at the last picture I posted, the blue wire with the orange stripe is clearly visible on the right. Once I decided to look at the fourth plug, I also found the gray/black wire there as well, plain as day! Tapped into both and they were the correct wires. Problem solved, and project complete!

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/themust...74426aa177.png
All that and the problem turned out to be bad directions...

Thank you guys for your help!!! I appreciate the effort you made to put me in the ball park. Cheers!
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/themust...aaff66be5a.png
All done!

That is awesome. I had been thinking about getting those mirrors for my car. Now that I see how good they look i May have a new project coming up. They look great.

mrkabc DOH!! Dont you hate when the instructions are wrong! That is so terrible...but I am very happy for you that you were able to figure it out!
Good job man and the mirrors look really awesome!! You may have inspired me to do something like that!! hehe. Fantastic job man!

I know this is an old thread.
I just wanted to know if anyone knows the power output for the indicator wire? I know it's not a constant 12v. I've been trying to install some led turn signals and the thing needs a constant 12v to run. When I plug it into the turn signal connector it turns on for a second then turns off. I need to figure something out. Maybe use a relay?
Anyways anyone know the power output for the indicator wire?

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@VGMStudios

KC