LANCER wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:07:...However, the front is a problem. The stock set had 3 wires and the new set has 2. I try to hook them up and no matter what I do I fry a fuse each time.....
According to my Clymer's, for 1996 on:
Stock wire to the front turn signals:
Black / white -- negative/ground/common
Slate -- running light -- Hot lead from 20amp fuse thru ignition switch. Ground this and it's fuse popping time.
Black -- Turn signal hot lead from turn signal switch and relay (blinker)
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Grab your battery charger (a handly source of non-blowable 12 volts.) Turn it on, clip one each lead to each of the wires from the new turn signal. Bulb should light. If no light and the charger is normal, replace bulb/socket.etc until it does light. If the charger pegs it's amp needle then disconnect -- you have an electrical short AKA fuse popping time in the new turn signal.
Assuming the lamp lights -- clip one lead to the mounting bolt. Touch the other clip to each wire one at a time. If you get a spark but no light then that is the ground wire. If the lamp lights then that is the hot lead for the turn signal. If nothing happens your socket is isolated from frame ground, repeat with the first clip on the main part of the bulb socket.
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Connect the black/white harness wire to the ground lead of the lamp. Connect the black harness wire to the hot lead of the lamp. Cap/tape off the slate harness wire -- if it touches ground with ignition on it will blow the fuse.