Signals Lights not working after Altezza Gen 2 lights installed

[Celica2002GT-S]

I just installed clear corner side markers and Altezza Gen 2 rear clear lights about 5 hours ago. I tested them out after I installed them and they worked fine. I drove north of San Diego to North County and everything worked. When I was driving back home I noticed that my Left/Right blinkers are not working. WTF do you think is causing the prob? I pulled off the freeway to see if my back lights were working and they worked fine. I opened up the back, took off the panels and checked the rear light bulbs and they are on and working, but when I flip the Left/Right signal switch nothing happens, not on the dash or on the front/Back lights of the car? I have a 2002 GT-S and i'm debating whether or not I should put back on the stock Red lights before I take it to the dealership? Logically it can't be because of the Altezza lights? The only thing that changed was the lense, and I checked all 3 of the light bulbs in the back and they are all working and secure and even after I installed the rear Altezza lights, everything worked fine including the signal lights until I got back in my car a few hours later and the signal lights didn't work. Anyhow what do you think I should do? Take it to the dealership with the Alteeza lights on the back or put back in the stock lights? Do you think they dealership will give me crap over the rear lights? I would think not since only the lense changed and even then the signals worked on the Altezza lights for a while and even the signal light bulb is on and works, it just won't blink, neither will the front light turn signal and the dash blinker signals? I want your opinions. Please Help!

[00CericaRuss]

maybe you blew a fuse... i'd check those before going to the dealer

[Need4Spd]

Celica2002GT-S: Please do not double post.

[Celica2002GT-S]

I'll check my fuses on my lunch break, hopefully its something simple like that. If its not the fuse, think I should put back on the origional tail lights just to cover my arse? I haven't dealt with toyota warranty issues much. I wouldn't think they would blame it on the Altezza lenses... since they are just lenses and wouldn't affect the turn signals. Anyhow I will check the fuse, thanks.

[CelicaNamja79]

Check your bulbs as well and please do not double post as we will get to your question as soon as we can.

[Celica2002GT-S]

sorry about the double post, won't happen again. I'll double check the bulbs when I check the fuse.

[Celica2002GT-S]

Okay, I checked the bulbs and they are okay, so then I opened the hood, opened the fuse box and checked the fuses. I did not see a signal only fuse so I looked for nearest match and checked the Haz. lights fuse. so i pull the fuse and its still good, so then I plug back in the fuse and test the Haz. lights switch (it should flash the signal lights) and I hear a small pop, so i check the fuse and it blew. I figure that something is shorting the signal lights so I check to make sure the wires going to the Altezza rear lights are free and clear of direct contact with metal and I notices that one of the wires going to the bulbs is tightened down somewhat inbetween where the nut holds the Alteeza Lense on (on the inside). I am going to loosen the lense and test out the signal lights. Do you think a wire from the bulb being tightened down somewhat to the chassis will short out the signal lights? Hopefully that is is, otherwise i'm putting back on my rear lights and acting like I don't know what happened when I go to the dealership, because i'm not letting the biggest bastards (dealerships) charge $100 for a simple fix... if not even more. I need to drop by there anyways, when I turn my steering wheel to the left, I hear a really annoying screeching sound, almost like metal on metal, i think it might be the CV Boots.. if not it is some other part of the steering column.

[Sirk_2]

First of all, getting a diff. set of tail light LENSES should not afftect your bulbs or fuse or anything for matter period. Think about what you did...you took bulbes out of the oem lenses, then you unscrewed your lenses and screwed the new ones on then put the bulbs back in...In no way does that create any chance for electrical problems. You may have broken the inner filament of the bulb when you took it out. That happened when i took my brake bulb out of the lense. That happens b/c you it it against something or what not... oh yeah, no wires should be tightened down by any nut back there or anything period for that matter...Not trying to sound like an ass or anything, just putting out my .02

[Celica2002GT-S]

I just noticed that one of the wires is stuck when i checked it a short while ago. I'm gonna loosen the lenses and make sure there is some play for the bulb wires and test to see if it still does not work, or if it pops a fuse. If it still doesn't want to work, screw it, its going to the dealership. Your right, I only switched out the lense and even before/after I tightened down the the Altezza lenses, it worked fine.... crap... something stupid like this signal light prob kinda takes the fun out of messing with a car... oh well.

[00CericaRuss]

yeah.. sounds like a pinched wire.... most likely what shorted it...

check the fuse block on the passenger side front seat floor area

[2002GT_Celica]

Well, whatever you do, do not let the dealership know that you changed your taillights at all. If they know this they will not cover the problem under warranty.

[Celica2002GT-S]

I am going to loosen up the Altezza lenses and make sure there the wires are straightened out and not pinched. I will also check the passengers side fuse box (I didn't know there was one, but I will look for it, thanks '00CericaRuss') and if it still doesn't work and all else fails i'll take your advice '002GT_Celica' and swap back in the stock tail lights and take it to the dealer. Hopefully it is just a pinched wire and 2 new fuses. Thanks for the reply's and I will add some pics of my Celica tomorrow when I post

[Celica2002GT-S]

In loosened the lense and checked out the wires and yup, it was a pinched wire and it was grounding out (thanks to my bro who tightened the lense onto the wire). Anyhow I dropped by Kragen Auto, picked up some fuses and replaced the bad one (passenger side fuse box) and i tested it out, whoo hoo it works. Next is sound system, I think i'm going with Apline.

[00CericaRuss]

you might wanna tape up the wire where it got pinched just to be safe

[Celica2002GT-S]

Yup I wrapped it with electrical tape. Thanks

[fox369celica]

If you had this many electrical problems while changing your tail lenses. You might want to take great care when you start putting in a system.

[Celica2002GT-S]

lol, I'm letting the pro's install my sound system. But thanks for the heads up, hehe