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#1 |
Got earplugs?
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Winfield, Kansas
Posts: 556
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When i turn on my headlights my taillights won't come on. Is this normal or not. If not can you help on how to fix it?
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1968 GMC Original A/C, bucket seats, PS,PB 396 bored to 402, Dynomax cerama-coat headers, Super 40 Flowmasters, 272/284 Crane cam, Crane gold roller rockers, holley 750 cfm double pumper, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, HEI ignition, 9.5:compression Alltogether 411HP and 446ft/lbs Dana 60 w/ 3.54 gears Turbo 400 tranny Why would you have anything other than a big block? HAHA |
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#2 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Virginia Beach, Va. U.S.A.
Posts: 15,320
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Sounds like a bad ground. Do your brake lights and turn signals work, and do your tail lights work without the headlights on?
------------------ Yeah, that's right. My name is Randy too! WWW.Randysrods.freeservers.com 1970 Chevy C-10 shortstep 30 Ford Model A Coupe 4 inch chop, 350, GMC 671 blower-Hell yeah it's fast! 87 Harley Sportster(couldnt get a 350 to fit) Self Propelled Lawn Mower Built in USA!!!! Virginia Beach, VA. |
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#3 |
Got earplugs?
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Winfield, Kansas
Posts: 556
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Brake lights and turn signal work just fine
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1968 GMC Original A/C, bucket seats, PS,PB 396 bored to 402, Dynomax cerama-coat headers, Super 40 Flowmasters, 272/284 Crane cam, Crane gold roller rockers, holley 750 cfm double pumper, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, HEI ignition, 9.5:compression Alltogether 411HP and 446ft/lbs Dana 60 w/ 3.54 gears Turbo 400 tranny Why would you have anything other than a big block? HAHA |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: St. Johns, Arizona
Posts: 2,660
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Lets see...
Bad ground, or bad wire (one feeds both tail lights), bad switch, bad fuse... just a starting point. I think that if the brakes and turn signals work fine that the ground is probably OK. Do the marker lights in front come on? Do your tail lights work when you just pull the knob out one notch, and then go out when you pull them all the way out, or do they not come on at all? ------------------ Bowen '68 K20 fleet '69 K10 swb fleet '72 C10 lwb step '72 K10 Suburban
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my 2¢ - t.i.o.l.i. Bowen 1968 K20 fleet 1969 K10 swb fleet 1972 K10 Suburban 1972 C10 lwb step 1992 K1500 'burb 1995 K2500 'burb 1997 C1500 'burb 1999 K1500 2000 K1500 'burb Why do I own so many Suburbans? |
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#5 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Lancaster S.C.
Posts: 4,752
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I've seen the signalite switch do that before.Just another thought.
------------------ 1971 chevy suburban (BIG ORANGE) 1970,68,90 swb Little BUCKS one day 67/72 truck parts bought/sold LIFE IS GOOD,THANK GOD FOR IT!
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Things happen for a reason! |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Petrolia,Ontario,Canada but working in Port Huron,Mi.
Posts: 1,771
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Poss.one of the 2 elements in the 1157 bulbs could be out.Try another bulb 1st.That's alot easier than wire tracing.It's happend to me before.
------------------ "71"blazer,rust free(bought in Arizona),350SBC (375HP),700R4,factory G.M. TPI.Living in Santa Barbara,California.Ongoing project.
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71 blazer,350SBC,approx.375HP,700R4,factory GM TPI.Dual electric fans,33x12.5x15 ATR on stock suspension. Petrolia,Ontario,Canada but working in Port Huron,MI. See ALL my Blazer pic's HERE |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Center City, MN, USA
Posts: 3,254
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On my truck one of the connections in the tail light assembly is lower than the other. The connection on that side of the 1157 bulb eventually loses contact. A new bulb works for a while before it too loses contact. I have a whole glove box full of 1157 bulbs that work but not in my truck on that side of the rear.
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'70 cab, '71 chassis, 383, TH350, NP205. '71 Malibu convertible '72 Malibu hard top Center City, MN |
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#8 |
Old member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S.
Posts: 19,936
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I just got done with this same problem in my 71. I drove it all weekend and Monday night when I got in it to drive to work no running lights at all, nothing, had head lights and fog lights but nothing else.
Got to checking and it was the wiring at the head light switch had melted just like the starter wiring did about a month ago. I cut off the factory connecter it was toast and put new spade connecters on and everything is working again fine. I guess it's just 30 something years of wiring starting to go bad. ------------------ Andy 71's Are for ever!!! or 67,68,69,70,72 71,factory tach,tilt for straight drive,gauges,ac,speed warning,clock,305 HO TPI with 700-R4, lowered 2" & 3" ,and 17" Chrome Stealth wheels, Pioneer reciever,100 watt amp, 6 disc changer, 2-10" subs (behind seat) 2-6x9 in doors, 2-3ways mounted under seat, and 2 tweaters on door panels www.geocities.com/chevy71tpi/main.html www.picturetrail.com/Andy4639
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1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 ![]() Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs. |
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#9 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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Not the ground, you wouldn't have brake or signal lights if it was the ground.
Like stated, check the bulbs. Is there a trailer plug hacked in there...was there ever one there? look to see if all teh connections are good or not. Does your license plate light work...is it still the original set up? The brown wire on your harness is the one you'll be looking at and checking for power. ------------------ '69 G.M.C. 350/350. Trying to clean up the left over damage from the Dope-Smokin-Old-Man I've been dubbed the Longhorn Freak/Fanatic/Expert, I just hope I can live up to it. FINALLY got the HORNIAC...a '70 one ton Longhorn with a Pontiac 350/350 and lots of 'personality'. Check out The Longhorn Webite. E-mail longhornmail@yahoo.com My name is Andy...not Randy...I'm in Ohio...Not Illinois...close enough? Columbus Ohio |
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#10 |
Weapons Of Construction
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Colorado, USA
Posts: 1,095
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I think the tail lights are on the same fuse as the dash lights. If the dash lights don't work, change the fuse. If they do, check your wiring and bulbs. Could be both bulbs - stranger things have happened...
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1971 GMC 2500, 402/TH400 4.10 Daily Driver Lafayette, CO |
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