chasing a ground problem - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Gator70 · 07-18-2011, 11:27 AM

So, I have a ground issue with my tailights. When i took the lens housings out the mounting screws had some sort of rubber?? behind them. Is that rubber, or something else. The screws hold the assy against the box and help create the ground. If it is rubber what creates the ground for the assy??

Any advise would be good, my beer budget is getting shot trying to chase this problem down.

BADPURPLE70CHEVY · 07-18-2011, 12:25 PM

When i put my bed back together i had a similar problem. Turned out to be a ground wire in behind the taillight assembly. GOOD LUCK

cdowns · 07-18-2011, 12:33 PM

i always run a ground cable from one of the crossills of the box to either a crossmember or frame rail to ground the box to the frame /it solves alot of problems

**Classic Heartbeat** · 07-18-2011, 12:34 PM

That stuff behind the screw is sealer. I use 3M Strip Calk adheisive in its place. It keeps water from getting inside the housing from the back side. The housing will ground to your bed once the screws are tightened. How does your sockets look? Or the taillight harness? WES

Gator70 · 07-18-2011, 01:07 PM

Thanks for the tips. I am trying to avoid pulling the whole harness out, but the sockets/connections are in suprisingly good shape. I can only feel up to the marker light splice and it feels pretty good. The nut clips for the mount screws are pretty rusty, I am going to try and get those off and clean them up.

I dont recall seeing a ground wire on the wiring diagram, or part of the harness. Where is that wire. The marker lights have the single lead and then grounded to the box. But I didnt see anything for tailights or back-up lights.

**Classic Heartbeat** · 07-18-2011, 01:11 PM

The taillight housing and backup lamp housing do not have seperate wires to ground them. They are grounded through their housings. WES

Gator70 · 07-18-2011, 01:21 PM

Thats what I thought Wes. Thanks. Maybe another wire like cdowns said would help things out. 40yr old connections can be a little fickle.

07-18-2011, 11:27 AM	#1
Gator70 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Turner Valley, Alberta Posts: 91	chasing a ground problem So, I have a ground issue with my tailights. When i took the lens housings out the mounting screws had some sort of rubber?? behind them. Is that rubber, or something else. The screws hold the assy against the box and help create the ground. If it is rubber what creates the ground for the assy?? Any advise would be good, my beer budget is getting shot trying to chase this problem down. __________________ 1970 GMC K15 - Canadian built 2nd Owner truck 68k miles 2014 Denali 1500 6.2L

07-18-2011, 12:25 PM	#2
BADPURPLE70CHEVY 406 Powered Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: waynesville,n.c. Posts: 877	Re: chasing a ground problem When i put my bed back together i had a similar problem. Turned out to be a ground wire in behind the taillight assembly. GOOD LUCK __________________ 70 GMC 68 c10 2002 silverado 72 4x4

07-18-2011, 12:33 PM	#3
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: chasing a ground problem i always run a ground cable from one of the crossills of the box to either a crossmember or frame rail to ground the box to the frame /it solves alot of problems __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

07-18-2011, 12:34 PM	#4
Classic Heartbeat Project Junkie! Fishing Poor!! Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Olympia,Wa. 98512 Posts: 10,770	Re: chasing a ground problem That stuff behind the screw is sealer. I use 3M Strip Calk adheisive in its place. It keeps water from getting inside the housing from the back side. The housing will ground to your bed once the screws are tightened. How does your sockets look? Or the taillight harness? WES __________________ On-line catolog Classic Heartbeat Pickup Parts WEHEPP@comcast.net Call us Toll Free (888) 338-2502 Like Us on Facebook No appointment necessary. 72 BB Chevy Custom Deluxe / Custom Camper 67 I-6 (Soon to be 5.7 LS1) Panel 68 BB Chevy Short Bed 72 6.0 LQ9 Short Bed Chevy 4X4 Olympia's fastest growing truck parts supplier. Olympia's home for Wayward Chevys

07-18-2011, 01:07 PM	#5
Gator70 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Turner Valley, Alberta Posts: 91	Re: chasing a ground problem Thanks for the tips. I am trying to avoid pulling the whole harness out, but the sockets/connections are in suprisingly good shape. I can only feel up to the marker light splice and it feels pretty good. The nut clips for the mount screws are pretty rusty, I am going to try and get those off and clean them up. I dont recall seeing a ground wire on the wiring diagram, or part of the harness. Where is that wire. The marker lights have the single lead and then grounded to the box. But I didnt see anything for tailights or back-up lights. __________________ 1970 GMC K15 - Canadian built 2nd Owner truck 68k miles 2014 Denali 1500 6.2L

07-18-2011, 01:11 PM	#6
Classic Heartbeat Project Junkie! Fishing Poor!! Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Olympia,Wa. 98512 Posts: 10,770	Re: chasing a ground problem The taillight housing and backup lamp housing do not have seperate wires to ground them. They are grounded through their housings. WES __________________ On-line catolog Classic Heartbeat Pickup Parts WEHEPP@comcast.net Call us Toll Free (888) 338-2502 Like Us on Facebook No appointment necessary. 72 BB Chevy Custom Deluxe / Custom Camper 67 I-6 (Soon to be 5.7 LS1) Panel 68 BB Chevy Short Bed 72 6.0 LQ9 Short Bed Chevy 4X4 Olympia's fastest growing truck parts supplier. Olympia's home for Wayward Chevys

07-18-2011, 01:21 PM	#7
Gator70 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Turner Valley, Alberta Posts: 91	Re: chasing a ground problem Thats what I thought Wes. Thanks. Maybe another wire like cdowns said would help things out. 40yr old connections can be a little fickle. __________________ 1970 GMC K15 - Canadian built 2nd Owner truck 68k miles 2014 Denali 1500 6.2L



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