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so I've got a 1981 F-150 that I'm having trouble with the License Plate wiring there are two sockets with two wires and the ground goes to a weatherproof bullet connector but then I can seem to find where the hot should go it's just a bare wire under there. if anyone could give me a picture of theirs that would be great.
Now that I think of it it may not make a difference as I think the tail light harness is where the difference is.
On the 81 at least on mine there is no ground wire in the harness the tail lights had a ground screw behind each light.
Thst bullet connector I believe is the hot wire for the plate lights and ground goes to the frame or body some where.
I used a style side tail light harness and made changes to work as a flare side harness. In testing I started to freak as it did not work at first. When I stepped back I had seen I did not have a ground for the lights.
Use a test light or meter to test that bullet connector for power.
Dave ----
I dont know what you have for a harness but here is what my 81 F100 style side tail light harness looked like with the tape removed.
As you can see the 2 plate sockets were part of the tail light harness.
I cant remember what that plug with the yellow bullet connector is and may have to go out and get under my truck to remember.
This is what I removed from the style side tail light harness as it was not needed for the flare side harness.
This is what I ended up with for the flare side harness. That yellow bullet connector I am sure id for the plate light as the plate / bracket w/light is under the left rear of the bed. (can see it in the first picture)
Here is the plate light harness / socket
Again I dont know what you have going on back there for the tail light harness but something dont sound right?
Dave ----
When you said that bullet connector is a ground how are you checking it?
Did you trace it and see it goes to ground or you using an ohm meter?
If meter it will show ground if it is a tail light supply as the flow will go through the light bulbs to ground.
Also what color is the wire?
Maybe a picture or 3 of what you are dealing with might help.
Dave ----
The picture below shows a factory splice I believe. You can see one brown wire coming from the front, and it splices into 3 brown wires, one to the pass side taillight and one each to the license plate lights. Brown is your hot wire.
Aaron said he has a style side but my style side harness had the plate light sockets as part of it (picture above) so I dont know what he has going on back there?
I also have to say mine had a step bumper that the sockets went into the lights that were mounted in it.
But IIRC some trucks did not come with rear bumpers and would have the same plate bracket & light as my flare side so wonder how that was set up?
Think we need some pictures of what he has.
Dave ----
Related question: I have both of my sockets, however one has the old bulb completely broken off right at the plastic. Does anyone have any tips/tricks for digging the rest of the old bulb out of there? Or should I replace the socket?
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