Turn signals work, parking lights don't

[tml1138]

Hello,

I have a 2003 GZ250 that I'm trying to get road ready asap. One problem: the running parking lights won't work, but the turn signals will.

Question 1: It seems the rear lights are not meant to be running lights/turn signal lights, as there is only one filament in the rear bulbs. Correct? (And I can't get the two filament bulbs to fit in there, so again reinforces the idea they don't go in there. My service manual just states 21/5W bulbs for all E-03 USA bikes.)

Question 2: The left front running light was working, but the right one was not. Checked the right, filaments are both good. In fact, if I try to put it in backwards, it won't turn in and seat all the way, yet it makes good enough contact to run the running lights (but turn signal lights won't work then). Then I checked the left front. It was corroded some. Put in some contact cleaner and cleaned up, put back in. Now the running light on it won't work, just the turn signal light! What's going on??

Also, the turn signal indicator light is working ok too. Blinks when you switch turn signal to either left or right.

Thanks for any help! I can't see it being a bad ground or bulb but...

[alantf]

Sounds like it COULD be a bad ground. When this happens in a double filament bulb, the current tries to find its way to ground through the other filament, and lots of weird and wonderful things start to happen. Have you got a meter, so you can find out instead of guessing?

[tml1138]

Yes I have a meter. But before I started doing that, I went and spent $5 on the 1157 bulbs. That did the trick. Even though the 21/5W filaments looked perfectly fine, obviously they weren't. Ok then.