95 grand am parking lights problem

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Vehicle Wiring Information & File Requests
Forum Discription: Request Car Alarm, Car Stereo, Cruise Control, Remote Starter, Navigation, Mobile Video, and Other Vehicle Specific Wiring Info, Manuals, Tech Tips
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=108592
Printed Date: May 16, 2025 at 6:16 AM

Topic: 95 grand am parking lights problem

Posted By: ga_maniac
Subject: 95 grand am parking lights problem
Date Posted: November 01, 2008 at 2:25 PM

First off... I have a 95 Grand Am SE with a Viper 550 ESP Alarm/RS. I am fairly knowledgeable with electrical wiring. This is going to be a muti-faceted post and I think I'm in the correct forum. Last week my parking lights and instrument panel lights stopped working. Brake lights, turn signals and headlights work fine and the fuse is good. When I arm/disarm the alarm or remote start the car the parking and instrument panel lights come on. But when I deactivate the remote start to drive the car the parking and instrument panel lights go off. It doesn't matter whether I use the remote start or not, the parking lights won't work when I turn them on with the switch. They only work when activated via the Viper 550 system. I'm thinking it could be the switch on the multi-function lever but am not sure. I think I have to pull the steering wheel to get to that don't I? I have a couple other questions:

1) Where is the parking light relay located (maybe I can try checking that first)?

2) I found the white wire coming from the alarm module that activates the parking lights. The jumper is set for 12v+ ouput for the white wire on the Viper. Can I just splice a 12v+ fused switch to that as an inexpensive fix (not sure if or how it may affect the Viper system)?

Replies:

Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: November 01, 2008 at 4:22 PM

Sounds like a fuse to me. There may be multiple fuse boxes in your vehicle. Did you recently install a radio in the vehicle?

Posted By: ga_maniac
Date Posted: November 01, 2008 at 8:35 PM

Negative... Bought the car new and it's all stock. The Alarm/RS was installed about 5 years ago and is the only thing not factory.

Posted By: ckeeler
Date Posted: November 03, 2008 at 9:31 AM

you need an entire combination switch #DS-795. been awhile since i've changed one. it should just come off if you remove the steering column shroud. you need torx head tools to unbolt it.

Posted By: ga_maniac
Date Posted: November 03, 2008 at 12:05 PM

So you're pretty certain it's the combination switch? DS795 is without cruise... so I whould need DS1303 since I have cruise, correct? Thanks a lot for the info! As long as I don't have to pull the steering wheel I should be able to do this.

Posted By: ckeeler
Date Posted: November 03, 2008 at 12:36 PM

correct

Posted By: ga_maniac
Date Posted: November 05, 2008 at 12:56 PM

Replaced the switch and that solved the problem. Didn't have to pull the steering wheel although it was a little tight with the lower screw in the switch.

Thanks to ckeeler! And kudos to the Admin(s) and the other Techs who contribute so much to help visitors to this site who need the help!