No rear lights

[Sunk]

I had a tail light out and I replaced that, and now I have no lights in the rear. No running lights, brake lights, turn signals, emergency flashers or reverse lights. All the lights on the front end work, but nothing out back. The fuses all look good, the flashers I replaced a few months ago as well as the main headlight switch. Since everything out back is dead, I was thinking maybe a ground. I checked the diagrams in the Tech Library, it looks like they share a common ground... so my question is where is that located? Or if anybody has any other ideas they'd be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[RobbieD]

Good place to start. It's more likely a bad connector or splice, versus the main grounding point (G200). On that taillights' ground wire, Splice #314 is simply listed as "LH frame rail" Connector #350 is "Rear of LH frame rail". Farther up the circuit there's a Splice #300, again only listed as "LH frame rail". The next splice up is S304, pictured in the EVTM as just after the tranny crossmember. At that point the ground circuit branches to the fuel pump, so if the truck runs, the ground wire fault is at some point after that. Your best bet is to pull that rear lighting harness down and open it up, following the ground wire itself from the back to S304 splice. Sounds like the wire is broken, one of the splices is rotted, or the C350 connector is rotted out.

 

[Sunk]

Thanks! I'll check on that later and see what I find.

 

[gbadgley]

I would look towards a connector also, Usually when you loose the ground the T/S will backfeed and ground through the taillights making a very dim t/s light. Greg

 

[Sunk]

I checked all the connections in the very back, messed with a few, no difference. I'll keep playing with stuff and work up the frame rail.

 

[Sunk]

Ok I pulled the harness apart from the back up to the tank and between the tank and transfercase. That's about all I can do without dropping the tank, and everything looks good to me. I also checked the harness at the rear where it splits and goes to the tail lights, license plate lights and everything... I saw a connections that looked maybe a little iffy, so I redid them. Still nothing out back..... Any other ideas?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

My brother had a truck that came in, the license plate light socket had rubbed against the bumper and shorted out. He said it was a hard thing to track down, you might check into it. He brought the socket home and it was all melted and the bulb was black.

 

[Mark_88]

If this all happened after replacing one bulb, I'd suggest remove that bulb and try a different one...you may have stuck it in backwards (hard to do but anything is possible)...

I'd also suggest to change the fuse(s) even if they look OK...sometimes you can't tell with those fuses...

The ground on the light circuit is by the battery...at least for the front lights, but if you've got no running lights then you might check that the ground wires are clean and the screws are tight...

I had a similar problem when I first installed the wiring harness...turned out to be the ground wire at the front was not grounding properly...hope you find it!~

 

[Sunk]

I'm pretty sure the bulb isn't in backwards, but I've done it before... I'll check the fuses with a voltmeter when I get a chance. I don't have one, and my buddy's was out on his boat. In the meantime, I'll keep riding the bike...

 

[Sunk]

Ok i swapped around the bad fuses with other fuses that I know are good... no difference. The bulb isn't in backwards, I checked that too. It may have to wait until I can get a dry day to crawl under the truck and try to find the ground for the rear harness.

 

[Sunk]

Ok, I noticed that my front blinkers and indicators are now blinking twice as fast as normal, like they would if there was a bulb out, but they do it on both sides. Maybe I just didn't notice it before... Hmm..

 

[WildSide]

Unplug the rear harness under the hood under the brake booster and check the front bulbs

 

[Sunk]

OK, I'll try that... but what should I be looking for?

 

[WildSide]

Just a grey rectangular conector with two rows of wires leading to the rear, unplug and if your front lights work properly you know for sure the rear harness contains the problem. Perhaps that conector's contacts need cleaning or repair.

 

[Sunk]

Ok well i didn't have to unplug the rear harness... it was already done for me! I should have looked their first but I honestly didn't expect it... The clips on the plug aren't in the best shape it probably came apart when I was doing my clutch... So it all worked, except the driver's side side brake light/blinker function, but i think i can fix that... and replace my blinker fuse.

Thanks guys.