Aftermarket reverse light issues
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 67
Likes: 3
Aftermarket reverse light issues
I got an 86 F150. I installed a flat bed a few months ago and bought some new led taillights to put on it. They have everything but a reverse light so I found an led pod laying around and wired it up today for a reverse light. It works with the headlights off, but as soon as the their on it won’t work when u put it in reverse? Also when it does work with the headlights off, my side markers are lit up….it’s strange. Any thoughts
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 3,985
Likes: 515
From: Edmond, OK
Here's a link with good information (i.e. wiring diagrams) for our Bullnose trucks.
https://www.garysgaragemahal.com/wiring-diagrams.html
Hope this helps you troubleshoot your taillights.
https://www.garysgaragemahal.com/wiring-diagrams.html
Hope this helps you troubleshoot your taillights.
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,955
Likes: 4,126
From: Angier, NC
You should have think 5 wires at the rear.
left = turn / brake
right = turn / brake
running
back up light
ground?
With a test light check each wire to see what they do.
Remember for any of the lights to work they must have a ground.
I dont know how the lights are mounted or grounded but my guess it is a wiring / ground issue.
BTW when I made the tail light harness for my flare side when I first tested on the ground they did not work
I stood back and it hit me NO GROUND!
Dave ----
left = turn / brake
right = turn / brake
running
back up light
ground?
With a test light check each wire to see what they do.
Remember for any of the lights to work they must have a ground.
I dont know how the lights are mounted or grounded but my guess it is a wiring / ground issue.
BTW when I made the tail light harness for my flare side when I first tested on the ground they did not work
I stood back and it hit me NO GROUND!
Dave ----
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 7,182
Likes: 1,174
Take a look at this troubleshooting guide for the turn signals and tail lights. Towards the end of post #1, you will see details of how a bad ground can cause other lights to illuminate. You'd swear the system is possessed.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ing-guide.html
You may have something similar going on with a common ground for the reverse lights. Follow the troubleshooting guide and park somewhere dark. Operate the reverse lights and look carefully at other bulbs to see if anything is glowing dimly. If so, you've got a bad ground to track down.
Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 67
Likes: 3
Thanks guys. Yea I have other lights that dimly light up when it’s in reverse and the headlights are off. I believe I jus tested the resistance of a wire back there and used a ground from my trailer wiring harness. But I can test again and try to find a better ground
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,955
Likes: 4,126
From: Angier, NC
Use a test light or volt meter, dont use resistance it is not your friend in this case.
If you keep blowing fuses then you would use resistance because if high it will blow the fuse.
Most light housings need to be grounded for the lights to work right.
If the back up lights have 1 wire then the housing needs to be grounded.
Tail / running light and brake / turn with 2 wires the housing needs to be grounded.
Dave ----
If you keep blowing fuses then you would use resistance because if high it will blow the fuse.
Most light housings need to be grounded for the lights to work right.
If the back up lights have 1 wire then the housing needs to be grounded.
Tail / running light and brake / turn with 2 wires the housing needs to be grounded.
Dave ----
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