I have a 1988 Bronco II and about three weeks ago the tail lights quit working. The inst lights on the dash are not wroking either. I do have hazard lights and break lights. Now this is the second time this has happened on my Bronco. When I bought the rig I discovered on the first night I drove it that I had no tail lights or dash lights. I checked all fuses and they were good. The next day at work I was telling one of our maintenance guys about it and he decided he would go out to the parking lot and check it out (he was Ranger man). In a little while he came to my office and told me I had a bad switch (I didn't ask him which one) and he could get me one from Autozone for 19.00 and have it fixed in just a few minutes. He replaced the switch and I didn't have any problems until three weeks ago. I replaced the dimmer switch yesterday and I still don't have tail lights. What do I need to check now? Is there another relay somewhere? Is it likely my "pull switch" is bad? I have a box just under the dash that has two wiring clusters plugged into it. I'm pretty sure one of these clusters comes from the wiring in the column. Could this be my problem? I need your help. I've replaced engins and do a lot of my own work but I'm stumpped on this one.

 

I've had this same problem. Try checking both taillights for a short for a start.

Stan

 

Welcome to FTE!!

Also check your grounds and sockets.

 

Most American vehicles I've run into that both of the tail lights didn't work, neither did the instrument lamps. Unless it was just bulbs and sockets. IMHO, Stan and Ken are on the right track there as that's what I'd be looking at myself.
I had the same problem about 6 months ago. I've got a frame type trailer hitch under mine and the trailer wiring was a rat's nest of loose ends and broken insulation. Turned out that mess was shorting out on the hitch. I rewired the bad parts of the harness and it's been fine since.

*****

 

Hey guys
I found my taillight problem. I bought a new headlight switch just in case. I decided to go ahead and change out the switch and see what that would do. When I got the old switch out, there was a burnt spot on the switch and the wire supplying power to the taillights had broken. Yeph you guessed it, it was one and the same. Best I can tell when the wire broke it sparked and burnt a spot on the old switch. It was clear after inspecting the old wire that it broke and didn't burn in to. I repaired the wire and replaced the switch. Taillights are working and I'm happy.