Hazards work, brake lights work sometimes, but running taillights wont switch on, my column is all broken i dont know if that has to do with anything but ive tried everything else, any advice, recently got my ls swap done but i doubt that has anything to do since everything else works on it
Taillights are out
- Thread starter Treyes
- Start date
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The combination hazard and turn signal switch, which has a great number of electrical connections, can produce odd behavior if something's amiss.
You might start by investigating whether all the circuits serviced by that switch are or are not functioning properly.
I have attached a schematic diagram of the hazard switch / turn signal switch and associated wiring from the 1998 service manual if it's of interest.
One member here recently had a situation where, if he kept his foot on the brake pedal to illuminate the brake lights, his running engine would not shut off even though he had turned-off the ignition.
You might start by investigating whether all the circuits serviced by that switch are or are not functioning properly.
I have attached a schematic diagram of the hazard switch / turn signal switch and associated wiring from the 1998 service manual if it's of interest.
One member here recently had a situation where, if he kept his foot on the brake pedal to illuminate the brake lights, his running engine would not shut off even though he had turned-off the ignition.
Last edited:
someotherguy
Truly Awesome
Posting what year your truck is just about always helps..
Edit, now I see in those tiny tags at the top of the post I assume we're working with a 1992?
Are *all* the running lights out, or just the taillights? In other words, do your front park lights/corner lights come on? Dash illumination comes on? If it's just the taillights, start at the 4 pin connector at end of driver's side frame rail, with a test light.
If it's all of the running lights, and fuses are 100% checked good, the usual suspect on 88-94 is the headlight switch.
Richard
Edit, now I see in those tiny tags at the top of the post I assume we're working with a 1992?
Are *all* the running lights out, or just the taillights? In other words, do your front park lights/corner lights come on? Dash illumination comes on? If it's just the taillights, start at the 4 pin connector at end of driver's side frame rail, with a test light.
If it's all of the running lights, and fuses are 100% checked good, the usual suspect on 88-94 is the headlight switch.
Richard
Only the rear running lights wont come on, when i turn headlights on the brake lights dont work unless headlights are off, turn signals dont work either even after replacing switch,
someotherguy
Truly Awesome
It sounds like you have a ground problem, likely the ground from the rear lighting harness to the frame. Easy enough to test the signal coming from the truck harness with the test light, so like I said, I'd start there. Simply unplug it at that 4 pin connector and then get busy with the test light.
I don't honestly know why I keep calling it a 4 pin, it should be 5. I guess it's easy to think "4" because of the flat 4 trailer connections. The harness that feeds the taillights has bright green for reverse, dark green for right signal/brake, yellow for left signal/brake, brown for taillights/tag lights, black for ground. Test light hooked to frame, test each function individually at the harness coming from the truck.
The rear section of the harness that actually goes to the taillights has a separate ground wire that attaches to a frame crossmember. It could be broken or loose. Also if there's a trailer harness connected, disconnect it for testing purposes. It's often the source of trouble.
Richard
Brandon_Lutz
Newbie
As mentioned above, check your grounds and then check your relay afterwards. I had a broken ground at the back of my truck that caused my relay to partially fail. Once I fixed my ground issue, I still had some lighting issues, did some basic troubleshooting and noticed when I tapped the relay the lights would sometimes work. I figure the relay got fried due to the short from the bad ground. After replacing the relay, my light issue went away.
Does anyone have a picture of where the ground is on the rear? My taillights in my ‘91 started having the same issue last night, but I couldn’t see a ground wire at the rear with my flashlight (I didn’t really know where to look). I’m going to try to fix it this evening, but it will it will be dark again before I get home. Any help would be appreciated!
No pictures, but…
On the trucks, IIRC it’s on the driver’s side of the frame, in the rear… I.e., grounded via a wire to terminal, held to the frame by a self-tapping bolt. The utility vehicles are similar.
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