1969 Chevy C-10 Stepside rear tail light issue - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

elektrik · 03-11-2007, 04:47 PM

Hi all. First of all, I'm new here. Got a 69 stepside and all the directionals work-sort of. After replacing all the bulbs (the front end was being worked on) and verifying I had the *correct* bulb, when I turn on the directionals, the front ones work as expected, but the back ones work as if I turned the hazards (ex. I turn the left one on and BOTH blink!)..

Anyone got any ideas? Like I said, I know the bulbs are correct..

Thanks in advance

krue · 03-11-2007, 04:53 PM

Welcome to the board from South Mississippi!

First thing to do is check your grounds (bad grounds make lights do funny things). If your handy with a multimeter check the harness from the firewall to the taillights (if you look toward the center of the firewall next to the master cylinder you'll see a 4 wire harness that looks like a trailer wiring harness) for grounds or shorts. Do your taillights and brakelights work right?

Longhorn Man · 03-11-2007, 04:58 PM

A wooden floored bed is even more problematic with grounds back there... I would ground the bed to the frame with a wire and see if that helps.

elektrik · 03-11-2007, 08:00 PM

Thanks for the tips-I'll try that. To answer your question, yes, everything "works" the way it is supposed to, EXCEPT the blinker portion (it's very weird to be sure); lights, brakes, etc.

I'll let you know if/when I figure it out.

Thanks again

elektrik · 03-12-2007, 03:31 PM

I think I figured out the problem, and it might involve parts to fix, but darned if I know where I would get it...

I think it's the actual tail light assembly. I have (from the best I can guesstimate) a 1969 C-10 fleetside of some sort (the guy who sold it to me said it had utility fenders on the back which he switched out for step-side fenders). Anyhow, because it has a "stepside" bed, it has those red trailer-type tail light assemblies. The passenger side one doesn't allow the light bulb to sit tightly in it (I believe it is somehow "spring loaded" since the light on the other side needs some elbow grease to be pushed in), so what I think is happening is that there is poor/no closure of the circuit. BTW, the truck behavior wasn't exactly as I originally typed. when I select the left turn signal, the rear signal doesn't come on and when I select the right, both turned on.

Anyhow, to make a long story short, I either need to figure out how to get that passenger assembly to snug up against the light bulb or figure out where -the-heck to buy a replacement....

Any suggestions?

P.S. Anyone wanna help me figure out what kind of truck this is? it says "CST" in the interior and there is a (factory??) chrome glove compartment door (and ashtray)...

Thanks

billrobbobjo · 11-15-2013, 08:41 PM

Im having the same problems with my lights i got them all working besides my break lights are messed up. Right now i got a ground wire running from the neg on the battery all the way back to the tail light housing after i scrubbed those down. I have been working on this for the last 3 weeks and still cant get them to work all the time. They will work then stay on then turn off and not work at all and then work again. Its so annoying i would try what i did and see what you get with the luck. Im about to replace the blinker switch in the colum in one of these days.

03-11-2007, 04:47 PM	#1
elektrik Foolish Mortal Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Livermore, CA Posts: 243	1969 Chevy C-10 Stepside rear tail light issue Hi all. First of all, I'm new here. Got a 69 stepside and all the directionals work-sort of. After replacing all the bulbs (the front end was being worked on) and verifying I had the correct bulb, when I turn on the directionals, the front ones work as expected, but the back ones work as if I turned the hazards (ex. I turn the left one on and BOTH blink!).. Anyone got any ideas? Like I said, I know the bulbs are correct.. Thanks in advance

03-11-2007, 04:53 PM	#2
krue Designated A-hole! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 36,450	Re: 1969 Chevy C-10 Stepside rear tail light issue Welcome to the board from South Mississippi! First thing to do is check your grounds (bad grounds make lights do funny things). If your handy with a multimeter check the harness from the firewall to the taillights (if you look toward the center of the firewall next to the master cylinder you'll see a 4 wire harness that looks like a trailer wiring harness) for grounds or shorts. Do your taillights and brakelights work right? __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck"

03-11-2007, 04:58 PM	#3
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: 1969 Chevy C-10 Stepside rear tail light issue A wooden floored bed is even more problematic with grounds back there... I would ground the bed to the frame with a wire and see if that helps.

03-11-2007, 08:00 PM	#4
elektrik Foolish Mortal Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Livermore, CA Posts: 243	Re: 1969 Chevy C-10 Stepside rear tail light issue Thanks for the tips-I'll try that. To answer your question, yes, everything "works" the way it is supposed to, EXCEPT the blinker portion (it's very weird to be sure); lights, brakes, etc. I'll let you know if/when I figure it out. Thanks again

03-12-2007, 03:31 PM	#5
elektrik Foolish Mortal Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Livermore, CA Posts: 243	Re: 1969 Chevy C-10 Stepside rear tail light issue I think I figured out the problem, and it might involve parts to fix, but darned if I know where I would get it... I think it's the actual tail light assembly. I have (from the best I can guesstimate) a 1969 C-10 fleetside of some sort (the guy who sold it to me said it had utility fenders on the back which he switched out for step-side fenders). Anyhow, because it has a "stepside" bed, it has those red trailer-type tail light assemblies. The passenger side one doesn't allow the light bulb to sit tightly in it (I believe it is somehow "spring loaded" since the light on the other side needs some elbow grease to be pushed in), so what I think is happening is that there is poor/no closure of the circuit. BTW, the truck behavior wasn't exactly as I originally typed. when I select the left turn signal, the rear signal doesn't come on and when I select the right, both turned on. Anyhow, to make a long story short, I either need to figure out how to get that passenger assembly to snug up against the light bulb or figure out where -the-heck to buy a replacement.... Any suggestions? P.S. Anyone wanna help me figure out what kind of truck this is? it says "CST" in the interior and there is a (factory??) chrome glove compartment door (and ashtray)... Thanks Last edited by elektrik; 03-12-2007 at 03:33 PM.

11-15-2013, 08:41 PM	#6
billrobbobjo Registered User Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: St. Cloud/ Alexandria MN Posts: 101	Re: 1969 Chevy C-10 Stepside rear tail light issue Im having the same problems with my lights i got them all working besides my break lights are messed up. Right now i got a ground wire running from the neg on the battery all the way back to the tail light housing after i scrubbed those down. I have been working on this for the last 3 weeks and still cant get them to work all the time. They will work then stay on then turn off and not work at all and then work again. Its so annoying i would try what i did and see what you get with the luck. Im about to replace the blinker switch in the colum in one of these days.



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