tail lights - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

60ratrod · 11-27-2007, 10:52 PM

so i have an issue with my tail lights. when i go over a bump the go out and if i go over another they come back on. sometimes i have to kick my roll pan to get them to work. so i was wondering if there is a harness kit that i can buy that is just for the rears??

Longhorn Man · 11-27-2007, 10:59 PM

remove the lenses
Take a 5/16 socket, and unbolt the 2 bolts holding the metal bucket to the bed.
Take some sand paper to the backside of the bucket where the bolts go through, and then on the bed where the same bolt goes in.
Put it all back together.
Repeat the same for the other side.

Turn on your lights and kick your roll pan and see if they flicker.
If they don't flicker, then haul ass over some speed bumps and pot holes while looking at the side marker lights in your rear view mirror.
If they still don't flicker, then have a beer, you're done.

Odds are highly it is a bad ground... esp if you have a wooden floor in the bed,a nd even more so if that is a rotten wooden floor.

Longhorn Man · 11-27-2007, 11:01 PM

Uh oh... your truck is probably a '60 judging by your screen name.
The same principal aplies, except for the side markers (never even considered yet in '60) and the bolt size may not be 5/16'ths.... and if it is a step side... also check the bracket that holds the tail light to the bed... clean that connection too.

60ratrod · 11-28-2007, 05:08 PM

the 60 is my project truck, or project problem child as i call it. the one that i am talking about is a 72 gmc 1/2 ton with the coil rear suspenstion. well it is a wooden bed floor. we took the buckets out and scrubbed them and the mounts and they still flicker. i just might take a sand blaster to them this time....

cdowns · 11-28-2007, 05:55 PM

run a ground wire from one of the bed crossmembers to the frame so you'll have a good ground from bed to frame

ChevLoRay · 11-28-2007, 06:02 PM

The correct name for the on-again, off-again symptom is "Sometimin'" Sometimes they work, sometimes, they don't.

Longhorn Man · 11-28-2007, 09:37 PM

cdowns is right... and I should have included that in my list.

60ratrod · 11-29-2007, 11:33 AM

well i'll give that a shot after i sand blast the bolt holes. i think that running from the bed to the frame should be relatively easy

11-27-2007, 10:52 PM	#1
60ratrod yes, i do Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Spokane, wa Posts: 2,734	tail lights so i have an issue with my tail lights. when i go over a bump the go out and if i go over another they come back on. sometimes i have to kick my roll pan to get them to work. so i was wondering if there is a harness kit that i can buy that is just for the rears?? __________________ ERROR 404....... SNAPPY COMEBACK NOT FOUND _______________________________________________________________________________________________ -60 Chevy C10, dead 350/good th350 combo, sitting on a 76 c10 blazer frame, built from 11 different vehicles "the abomination" -07 gmt900 silverado 1500 lt xcab z71, granite blue -81 suzuki gs650g "shelah"- current project -81 kz1000m1 csr "sarge" -next project (just beautification) -07 kawasaki vulcan classic vn900

11-27-2007, 10:59 PM	#2
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: tail lights remove the lenses Take a 5/16 socket, and unbolt the 2 bolts holding the metal bucket to the bed. Take some sand paper to the backside of the bucket where the bolts go through, and then on the bed where the same bolt goes in. Put it all back together. Repeat the same for the other side. Turn on your lights and kick your roll pan and see if they flicker. If they don't flicker, then haul ass over some speed bumps and pot holes while looking at the side marker lights in your rear view mirror. If they still don't flicker, then have a beer, you're done. Odds are highly it is a bad ground... esp if you have a wooden floor in the bed,a nd even more so if that is a rotten wooden floor.

11-27-2007, 11:01 PM	#3
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: tail lights Uh oh... your truck is probably a '60 judging by your screen name. The same principal aplies, except for the side markers (never even considered yet in '60) and the bolt size may not be 5/16'ths.... and if it is a step side... also check the bracket that holds the tail light to the bed... clean that connection too. Last edited by Longhorn Man; 11-27-2007 at 11:01 PM.

11-28-2007, 05:08 PM	#4
60ratrod yes, i do Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Spokane, wa Posts: 2,734	Re: tail lights the 60 is my project truck, or project problem child as i call it. the one that i am talking about is a 72 gmc 1/2 ton with the coil rear suspenstion. well it is a wooden bed floor. we took the buckets out and scrubbed them and the mounts and they still flicker. i just might take a sand blaster to them this time.... __________________ ERROR 404....... SNAPPY COMEBACK NOT FOUND _______________________________________________________________________________________________ -60 Chevy C10, dead 350/good th350 combo, sitting on a 76 c10 blazer frame, built from 11 different vehicles "the abomination" -07 gmt900 silverado 1500 lt xcab z71, granite blue -81 suzuki gs650g "shelah"- current project -81 kz1000m1 csr "sarge" -next project (just beautification) -07 kawasaki vulcan classic vn900

11-28-2007, 05:55 PM	#5
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: tail lights run a ground wire from one of the bed crossmembers to the frame so you'll have a good ground from bed to frame __________________ 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

11-28-2007, 06:02 PM	#6
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: tail lights The correct name for the on-again, off-again symptom is "Sometimin'" Sometimes they work, sometimes, they don't. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

11-28-2007, 09:37 PM	#7
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: tail lights cdowns is right... and I should have included that in my list.

11-29-2007, 11:33 AM	#8
60ratrod yes, i do Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Spokane, wa Posts: 2,734	Re: tail lights well i'll give that a shot after i sand blast the bolt holes. i think that running from the bed to the frame should be relatively easy __________________ ERROR 404....... SNAPPY COMEBACK NOT FOUND _______________________________________________________________________________________________ -60 Chevy C10, dead 350/good th350 combo, sitting on a 76 c10 blazer frame, built from 11 different vehicles "the abomination" -07 gmt900 silverado 1500 lt xcab z71, granite blue -81 suzuki gs650g "shelah"- current project -81 kz1000m1 csr "sarge" -next project (just beautification) -07 kawasaki vulcan classic vn900

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