No tail lights!!! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

themargaritaman · 12-03-2009, 11:23 PM

Can anybody help me? I'm not a dummy when it comes to mechanics. I am having an issue with my brake lights/parking lights. During the day, when I am not using my parking lights my brake lights work. At night when I turn on my headlights and or parking lights, I have no tail lights and when I brake, my rear parking lights light up as well as my brake lights. Weird huh?? I have checked all wiring and have no shorts or exposed wiring anywhere. All the wiring in my truck has been replaced. They use to work fine before, but it has sat for 2 years and now this. Does the stop lamp switch correct this?? Everthing is hooked up correctly, and the bulbs are new! Any help would be greatly appreciated. And yes all fuses are fine and the correct size.

68gmsee · 12-06-2009, 11:27 AM

Welcome.... from Texas.

First you want to make sure that you have good ground points on all of the metal going back to the battery. I fought weird problems with lighting for long time before I did the ground fix. Lots of old bolts lose good grounding contact.

What I did:
Ground strap from rear of truck to frame.
Ground strap from rear of cab to frame.
Ground strap from cab to engine.
Ground strap from neg post to radiator support.

I also made sure cable to engine was good and even installed another cable from engine to frame.

After that is done, then go back and check all the wiring. Lots of good wiring diagrams in the faq section of the "electrical" forum.

themargaritaman · 12-07-2009, 12:16 AM

Okay I will try that. What is the purpose of so many positions? I'd really hate to cut into the insulation of my wiring kit and cause future problems.

cdowns · 12-07-2009, 03:13 PM

to run grounds there is no cutting of wire harness//you get a wire or strap ,drill a hole in crosssill of bed and attach one end then you drill or use existing hole in frame to mount the other end of ground cable// all mount holes should b bright shiny metal to metal contact for good grounding

themargaritaman · 12-07-2009, 04:15 PM

Okay. What do you mean by the crossill? Is that any one of the cross members? I have the 2 piece driveshaft also.

12-03-2009, 11:23 PM	#1
themargaritaman Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Hesperia, California Posts: 3	No tail lights!!! Can anybody help me? I'm not a dummy when it comes to mechanics. I am having an issue with my brake lights/parking lights. During the day, when I am not using my parking lights my brake lights work. At night when I turn on my headlights and or parking lights, I have no tail lights and when I brake, my rear parking lights light up as well as my brake lights. Weird huh?? I have checked all wiring and have no shorts or exposed wiring anywhere. All the wiring in my truck has been replaced. They use to work fine before, but it has sat for 2 years and now this. Does the stop lamp switch correct this?? Everthing is hooked up correctly, and the bulbs are new! Any help would be greatly appreciated. And yes all fuses are fine and the correct size.

12-06-2009, 11:27 AM	#2
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	Re: No tail lights!!! Welcome.... from Texas. First you want to make sure that you have good ground points on all of the metal going back to the battery. I fought weird problems with lighting for long time before I did the ground fix. Lots of old bolts lose good grounding contact. What I did: Ground strap from rear of truck to frame. Ground strap from rear of cab to frame. Ground strap from cab to engine. Ground strap from neg post to radiator support. I also made sure cable to engine was good and even installed another cable from engine to frame. After that is done, then go back and check all the wiring. Lots of good wiring diagrams in the faq section of the "electrical" forum. Last edited by 68gmsee; 12-06-2009 at 11:27 AM.

12-07-2009, 12:16 AM	#3
themargaritaman Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Hesperia, California Posts: 3	Re: No tail lights!!! Okay I will try that. What is the purpose of so many positions? I'd really hate to cut into the insulation of my wiring kit and cause future problems.

12-07-2009, 03:13 PM	#4
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: No tail lights!!! to run grounds there is no cutting of wire harness//you get a wire or strap ,drill a hole in crosssill of bed and attach one end then you drill or use existing hole in frame to mount the other end of ground cable// all mount holes should b bright shiny metal to metal contact for good grounding __________________ 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

12-07-2009, 04:15 PM	#5
themargaritaman Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Hesperia, California Posts: 3	Re: No tail lights!!! Okay. What do you mean by the crossill? Is that any one of the cross members? I have the 2 piece driveshaft also.

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