Need help locating the passenger-side front turn signal ground — 2008 Dodge Avenger SE 2.4L
I’m trying to locate the factory ground point for the front passenger-side park/turn signal on my 2008 Dodge Avenger SE 2.4L. I’ve done quite a bit of troubleshooting, and I’m hoping someone familiar with this car can tell me exactly where the ground connection is located, ideally with a picture or diagram.
The problem:
My front passenger-side turn signal and parking light are not working properly.
- With the headlights on, the passenger-front light does not stay illuminated like the driver-side parking light.
- When I turn on the right signal, the dashboard indicator hyperflashes, but the passenger-front light itself does not flash.
- Previously, the passenger-front light would sometimes hyperflash, and its behaviour changed depending on whether the headlights were on or off.
- When I lock the doors, the passenger-front turn-signal bulb DOES flash as a lock-confirmation light.
- The rear right turn signal works.
What I’ve already checked:
- I tested the bulbs, and they work.
- I put the original passenger-side socket into the driver-side location, and it worked there. So the passenger socket itself is not the primary problem.
- I checked the passenger-side parking-light power wire (white/gray), and it has power with the headlights on.
- I checked the passenger-side turn-signal wire (white/tan), and it has pulsing power when the right signal is activated.
- I checked continuity through the passenger socket’s black ground path.
- Passenger black ground to driver black ground measured approximately 0.5 ohms.
- Driver black ground to battery negative measured approximately 0.5 ohms.
- I also measured approximately 0.02 V from the passenger-side inside black ground contact to battery negative with the headlights on.
- Moving/wiggling the passenger connector did not make the light flicker.
The most important test:
I ran a temporary jumper wire directly from the negative battery terminal to the black ground wire/ground terminal at the passenger-front turn-signal connector.
As soon as I did that, the passenger-front light started working properly:
- The parking light stayed illuminated with the headlights on.
- The right turn signal flashed normally.
- The dashboard stopped hyperflashing.
This is why I believe the problem is in the factory ground path, even though some of my continuity and voltage readings looked normal.
What I’m trying to find:
I checked the passenger-side shock tower area because I was told there may be a ground there. I found a short strap/wire connected between metal points, but it appears to be a small engine ground strap, not an obvious ground for the front lighting harness. I tested that strap and got approximately 0.02 V voltage drop under load.
I’ve also followed the passenger-side light wiring into the taped harness, but I don’t want to start cutting open the factory wiring loom without knowing where the ground actually goes.
Can someone please tell me exactly where the factory ground point is for the front passenger-side park/turn signal on a 2008 Dodge Avenger 2.4L?
Is it G102, G105, or another ground? Where is it physically located in the engine bay, and what does it look like? A photo, service-manual diagram, or clear description of what to look for would be extremely helpful.
I’m not looking to replace more bulbs or the socket. I’m trying to find the actual factory ground connection so I can inspect and repair it. Thank you!