Apparently, a 3rdgen's front turn signals coordinate with the front side markers during turn signal operation through reverse polarity. In other words, when a turn signal is activated, the front side marker on the same side as the active turn signal flashes too.

When the headlights are off, the side marker flashes in unison with the active front turn signal. But when the headlights are on, the side marker flashes alternately with the active front turn signal. So apparently the turn signals are directly affected by the headlight wiring.

If I were to cut the front turn signals' wires and remove the sockets, how, if at all, will it affect the side markers? And will the system respond as if there's a burned-out bulb, lighting the signal lights in the dash?

I'm replacing the turn signals(housings and bulbs), and I'm separating the two operations: parking lights and turn signals. I'll be eliminating the front turn signal sockets. Daytime running lights will operate off of a wire independent of the brown wire, so they will not be tied to the parking lights. The turn signals will operate only with the normal turn signal wire, no brown wire here either, so also not tied to the parking lights. This will leave the brown parking light wire connected only to the front side markers. So I'm wondering how the car's system might respond to that?

My thoughts are, as long as the brown wire remains continuous from side marker to side marker, then the front side markers will operate normally, but probably only as front side markers, as having removed them from the turn signal sockets they will no longer flash with the turn signals--so no more reverse polarity--and I'm ok with that. Or is the polarity factor farther up within the system, and even though I've changed the wiring, it won't affect normal operation with regards to front turn signals and side markers flashing?

Hopefully somebody will understand what I'm asking about, as this isn't a common topic lol.

 

The side markers have two wires as you likely know. One is parking light and the other is that side's turn signal wire. This gives the operation that you have noted.

The "ground" is sourced through other bulbs in the system. So when the parking light is on (and the turn signal is not), the ground for the side marker is sourced through the turn signal filament of that side. Alternately, when the signal is on (and the parking lights are not), the ground for the marker light is sourced through the parking light filaments of the other bulbs.

The reason that they side markers turn off when the parking lights and turn signals are on is that in that instant, the side marker has a positive voltage on both sides of the bulb.

As long as you retain the same functionality using other bulbs in the front of the car, then the side markers will remain functionality will remain.

 

Thanks for your reply. In the meantime, I found a schematic. And comparing that to what you said...

The side marker ground is provided by the blue wire from the turn socket, where the blue wire connects to the black wire, and that lights the side marker as a parking light. Then when power is applied to the blue wire by activating the turn signal, the blue wire becomes a second positive at the side marker to reverse the polarity and make the side marker flash. But I'll be cutting the turn socket out of the loop, which will change the functionality, as I suspected might be the case. I'll just have to provide a direct ground to the side marker so it functions as a parking light. That'll do. At least I won't be blowing up anything lol. Thanks.