HELP! Crappy license plate wiring

[Alberta65]

Ok I picked up a re pop original bumper with my 65 C10 and it actually came with a license plate holder and light. That was cool, until I began wiring the rear end and can't figure out this crappy license plate light for the life of me. There is only one wire about 12-14 gauge coming from the light with a plug that does not fit the original harness tail light plug. Even after just cutting the connector off I cannot get this damn light to work!!!

All the tail lights, brake lights, and running lights are perfect now. But regardless of what wire I tie into the license plate light will not come on. Since there was only one wire I assumed that it was grounded through the bumper so I ground and cleaned up all the connections at the bolts down to bare metal but that didn't help any. I'm ready to burn this piece of crap to the ground today!!!
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[guy0783]

Please don't take offense, but have you checked the bulb? I only ask because I recently spent time hunting wiring gremlins on my front pass running light only to find that the bulb that looked good was in fact bad. Doh!

[Alberta65]

Originally Posted by guy0783

Please don't take offense, but have you checked the bulb? I only ask because I recently spent time hunting wiring gremlins on my front pass running light only to find that the bulb that looked good was in fact bad. Doh!

No offence taken! In fact I have questioned it a couple times in my head but said nooo that bulb looks fine and it's new so it's not possible.... I guess it is possible always
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[The Rocknrod]

So you grounded the bumper brackets to the frame. What about the frame to the battery ground?

[Alberta65]

Originally Posted by The Rocknrod

So you grounded the bumper brackets to the frame. What about the frame to the battery ground?

Yes frame to battery ground is good and not affecting anything else
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[chevy_mike]

Test the bulb. Be sure before chasing your tail. Like guy0783 said, I have had bulbs brand new be bad.

[TopFuel1966]

Remove the bulb from the socket. Clean the inside of the socket housing and then test for continuity to ground. If that checks out then test for 12V DC at the bulb contact in the socket with the headlight switch on. If that checks out replace the bulb.

[Alberta65]

Originally Posted by TopFuel1966

Remove the bulb from the socket. Clean the inside of the socket housing and then test for continuity to ground. If that checks out then test for 12V DC at the bulb contact in the socket with the headlight switch on. If that checks out replace the bulb.

Excuse my lack of electrical knowledge but how do I test for continuity to the ground? I check the bulb with a multimeter it's fine also if I touch the end of the wire from the light and the bulb it checks out so that part appears to be fine....

Side note it is a halogen bulb and the tail lights are leds would that be creating an issue?
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[TopFuel1966]

Originally Posted by Alberta65

Excuse my lack of electrical knowledge but how do I test for continuity to the ground? I check the bulb with a multimeter it's fine also if I touch the end of the wire from the light and the bulb it checks out so that part appears to be fine....

Side note it is a halogen bulb and the tail lights are leds would that be creating an issue?
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Set your meter on the ohms scale and touch one lead to the socket and the other lead to a clean spot on the frame. If the meter needle goes to "0" or near "0" then you have a good connection between the two. If the meter needle doesn't move or stays high than you've found your problem.