URGENT HELP needed.....tail light problem - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

1966gmc · 05-13-2009, 12:13 PM

I need help with this asap as I am taking this truck on a weekend long cruise trip. I have no tail lights but my brake lights and turn signals work perfectly. I am stumped on this and have no time to completely re-wire the rear end of this thing by tomorrow morning. I am on a lunch break as I type this plea for help. I am sure this is not a ground issue due to the rest of the lights working condition. Help a brother out

jason65 · 05-13-2009, 12:18 PM

Do you have front park lights? Give them the wiggle test.

70 Suburban · 05-13-2009, 12:30 PM

Do you have dash lights?

jchav62 · 05-13-2009, 12:41 PM

Have you checked the bulbs?

One time on my buddy's '60, the tail lights weren't working, with the lights on, we shook and wiggled the tailgate and magically they came back on.... I believe it was a ground issue that the vibration from shaking the tailgate fixed.

joe231 · 05-13-2009, 12:59 PM

yeah, more info needed?

have you checked for voltage at the rear lights?
have you checked fuses?
do you have a license plate light?
as you probably know the brake/turn is one circuit and the taillights are another.....

1966gmc · 05-13-2009, 01:09 PM

ok sorry.yes i have front parking lights. I dont have dash lights and no tag lights. I have 12 volts across all fuses and the bulbs are brand new. No voltage at the rear lights until I hit the brakes

70 Suburban · 05-13-2009, 01:12 PM

dash lights a common to tell you there is no power to the rear of the truck (incomplete circut).

joe231 · 05-13-2009, 01:26 PM

the dash and the dome are the same circuit, the dash lights are not on the circuit with the taillights. also the taillights and the front park lights are on a separate circuit I think, if it is the same as the 64-65, not sure if there was a change in 66
check for power at the headlight switch, the '64 diagram show a brown wire there.
if you have power there, then check the firewall connector, if there is power there, then check the connector under the rear of the bed....
if you have no power at the switch, then I would suspect the switch itself.

1966gmc · 05-13-2009, 02:30 PM

So I take it that the tail lamps are grounded at the bezel?

70 Suburban · 05-13-2009, 02:37 PM

YES. BUT IF IT WERE A GROUND THEN YOU WOULD HAVE ALTERNATING FLASHING OR DIM FLASHING WHE YOU USE YOUR BLINKER. ALS DIM BRAKE LIGHTS WHEN YOU HVE NO GROUND.. i WOULD START AT YOUR DASH SWITCH.. THATS COMMON

joe231 · 05-13-2009, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70 Suburban

YES. BUT IF IT WERE A GROUND THEN YOU WOULD HAVE ALTERNATING FLASHING OR DIM FLASHING WHE YOU USE YOUR BLINKER. ALS DIM BRAKE LIGHTS WHEN YOU HVE NO GROUND.. i WOULD START AT YOUR DASH SWITCH.. THATS COMMON

man, why are you yelling?

yes the the tail lights ground through the socket/bucket....but as stated it should be grounded ok if your brake and turn works, unless they are very dim..

70 Suburban · 05-13-2009, 03:35 PM

sorry I am in a service dpt. they like everything to be in caps

joe231 · 05-13-2009, 03:36 PM

70 Suburban · 05-13-2009, 03:41 PM

lol if you look I did push shift for the (i)

joe231 · 05-13-2009, 03:42 PM

I see that now

1966gmc · 05-13-2009, 07:07 PM

Broken wire. Re-wired the rear and good as gold. Thanks guys

Joemomma1 · 05-13-2009, 07:12 PM

I know this is off topic but how about some pics of that bad boy?

1966gmc · 05-13-2009, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joemomma1

I know this is off topic but how about some pics of that bad boy?

Man I hate electrical problems. Thanks again guys

Page 1 and 2 have some older pics. I will more than likely take some newer pics this weekend

http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a224/05xd/

joe231 · 05-13-2009, 07:32 PM

right on, glad to hear it

05-13-2009, 12:13 PM	#1
1966gmc Why does it taste purple? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge Md Posts: 621	URGENT HELP needed.....tail light problem I need help with this asap as I am taking this truck on a weekend long cruise trip. I have no tail lights but my brake lights and turn signals work perfectly. I am stumped on this and have no time to completely re-wire the rear end of this thing by tomorrow morning. I am on a lunch break as I type this plea for help. I am sure this is not a ground issue due to the rest of the lights working condition. Help a brother out __________________ Hello, my name is John and I'm a truckaholic

05-13-2009, 12:18 PM	#2
jason65 Registerd User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 2,118	Re: URGENT HELP needed.....tail light problem Do you have front park lights? Give them the wiggle test.

05-13-2009, 12:30 PM	#3
70 Suburban Rods Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Bryan, TX Posts: 1,398	Re: URGENT HELP needed.....tail light problem Do you have dash lights? __________________ Just keepin it simple. 1965 C-10 Ext cab build. 350??(Does it count at 2 truck if I had to cut one up?) 1966 C-10 lwb 283 auto 1970 Suburban in pieces 1971 Blazer 4wd....restore someday. all factory CST 1972 Blazer 4wd parts truck still a roller 1972 GMC Sierra Grandee 1998 Chevy ext driver. 2005 F**D the wife drive...(cant fix women)

05-13-2009, 12:41 PM	#4
jchav62 1962 C-10 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Las Vegas, New Mexico Posts: 4,978	Re: URGENT HELP needed.....tail light problem Have you checked the bulbs? One time on my buddy's '60, the tail lights weren't working, with the lights on, we shook and wiggled the tailgate and magically they came back on.... I believe it was a ground issue that the vibration from shaking the tailgate fixed. __________________ Joseph Chavez "See the USA in a Chevrolet!!" ......................_____ .........________//__{\_____ ,,,,,,,/__(O)___//___/__(O)_/ 1962 C10 Shortbed Fleetside 327/th350 GV overdrive 1974 C10 Longbed Fleetside 350/th350 "The Trash Truck" 1999 Chevy 2500 OBS, Longbed 5.7/4L80E 4x4 2015 GMC Sierra SLE 1500 4x4

05-13-2009, 12:59 PM	#5
joe231 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Palmer, Alaska Posts: 13,821	Re: URGENT HELP needed.....tail light problem yeah, more info needed? have you checked for voltage at the rear lights? have you checked fuses? do you have a license plate light? as you probably know the brake/turn is one circuit and the taillights are another..... __________________ *CHEVY ONLY*

05-13-2009, 01:09 PM	#6
1966gmc Why does it taste purple? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge Md Posts: 621	Re: URGENT HELP needed.....tail light problem ok sorry.yes i have front parking lights. I dont have dash lights and no tag lights. I have 12 volts across all fuses and the bulbs are brand new. No voltage at the rear lights until I hit the brakes __________________ Hello, my name is John and I'm a truckaholic

05-13-2009, 01:12 PM	#7
70 Suburban Rods Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Bryan, TX Posts: 1,398	Re: URGENT HELP needed.....tail light problem dash lights a common to tell you there is no power to the rear of the truck (incomplete circut). __________________ Just keepin it simple. 1965 C-10 Ext cab build. 350??(Does it count at 2 truck if I had to cut one up?) 1966 C-10 lwb 283 auto 1970 Suburban in pieces 1971 Blazer 4wd....restore someday. all factory CST 1972 Blazer 4wd parts truck still a roller 1972 GMC Sierra Grandee 1998 Chevy ext driver. 2005 F**D the wife drive...(cant fix women)

05-13-2009, 01:26 PM	#8
joe231 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Palmer, Alaska Posts: 13,821	Re: URGENT HELP needed.....tail light problem the dash and the dome are the same circuit, the dash lights are not on the circuit with the taillights. also the taillights and the front park lights are on a separate circuit I think, if it is the same as the 64-65, not sure if there was a change in 66 check for power at the headlight switch, the '64 diagram show a brown wire there. if you have power there, then check the firewall connector, if there is power there, then check the connector under the rear of the bed.... if you have no power at the switch, then I would suspect the switch itself. __________________ *CHEVY ONLY* Last edited by joe231; 05-13-2009 at 01:29 PM.

05-13-2009, 02:30 PM	#9
1966gmc Why does it taste purple? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge Md Posts: 621	Re: URGENT HELP needed.....tail light problem So I take it that the tail lamps are grounded at the bezel? __________________ Hello, my name is John and I'm a truckaholic

05-13-2009, 02:37 PM	#10
70 Suburban Rods Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Bryan, TX Posts: 1,398	Re: URGENT HELP needed.....tail light problem YES. BUT IF IT WERE A GROUND THEN YOU WOULD HAVE ALTERNATING FLASHING OR DIM FLASHING WHE YOU USE YOUR BLINKER. ALS DIM BRAKE LIGHTS WHEN YOU HVE NO GROUND.. i WOULD START AT YOUR DASH SWITCH.. THATS COMMON __________________ Just keepin it simple. 1965 C-10 Ext cab build. 350??(Does it count at 2 truck if I had to cut one up?) 1966 C-10 lwb 283 auto 1970 Suburban in pieces 1971 Blazer 4wd....restore someday. all factory CST 1972 Blazer 4wd parts truck still a roller 1972 GMC Sierra Grandee 1998 Chevy ext driver. 2005 F**D the wife drive...(cant fix women)

05-13-2009, 03:35 PM	#12
70 Suburban Rods Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Bryan, TX Posts: 1,398	Re: URGENT HELP needed.....tail light problem sorry I am in a service dpt. they like everything to be in caps __________________ Just keepin it simple. 1965 C-10 Ext cab build. 350??(Does it count at 2 truck if I had to cut one up?) 1966 C-10 lwb 283 auto 1970 Suburban in pieces 1971 Blazer 4wd....restore someday. all factory CST 1972 Blazer 4wd parts truck still a roller 1972 GMC Sierra Grandee 1998 Chevy ext driver. 2005 F**D the wife drive...(cant fix women)

05-13-2009, 03:36 PM	#13
joe231 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Palmer, Alaska Posts: 13,821	Re: URGENT HELP needed.....tail light problem __________________ *CHEVY ONLY*

05-13-2009, 03:41 PM	#14
70 Suburban Rods Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Bryan, TX Posts: 1,398	Re: URGENT HELP needed.....tail light problem lol if you look I did push shift for the (i) __________________ Just keepin it simple. 1965 C-10 Ext cab build. 350??(Does it count at 2 truck if I had to cut one up?) 1966 C-10 lwb 283 auto 1970 Suburban in pieces 1971 Blazer 4wd....restore someday. all factory CST 1972 Blazer 4wd parts truck still a roller 1972 GMC Sierra Grandee 1998 Chevy ext driver. 2005 F**D the wife drive...(cant fix women)

05-13-2009, 03:42 PM	#15
joe231 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Palmer, Alaska Posts: 13,821	Re: URGENT HELP needed.....tail light problem I see that now __________________ *CHEVY ONLY*

05-13-2009, 07:07 PM	#16
1966gmc Why does it taste purple? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge Md Posts: 621	Re: URGENT HELP needed.....tail light problem Broken wire. Re-wired the rear and good as gold. Thanks guys __________________ Hello, my name is John and I'm a truckaholic



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05-13-2009, 07:12 PM	#17
Joemomma1 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: CA Posts: 814	Re: URGENT HELP needed.....tail light problem I know this is off topic but how about some pics of that bad boy?

05-13-2009, 07:32 PM	#19
joe231 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Palmer, Alaska Posts: 13,821	Re: URGENT HELP needed.....tail light problem right on, glad to hear it __________________ *CHEVY ONLY*

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