tailight ground
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 311
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From: Walla Walla USA
tailight ground
Ok......new wiring and my tailights work with the lights but only the right one works with the brakes. Am I correct that the only ground is into the tail-light unit itself? Otherwise the right tailight would not work as well if there were additional grounds. Brand new tail-light as well...?????
Thanks jim
http://www.48f-1.com
Thanks jim
http://www.48f-1.com
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,997
Likes: 2,744
From: Virginia
tailight ground
What kind of turnsignal switch are you using? How many bulbs and how many filaments (or hot wires) go to each bulb in the back? If you have the conventional wiring with a single dual filament bulb in each taillamp, then your brake lights run through your turn signal switch. This switch is rather complicated, as it lets the brake signal from the brake pedal switch go through to both taillamps, but disconnects the brake circuit to a particular lamp and connects it to the flasher when you want to turn. I don't know if you have an original switch or a custom type add-on unit.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
From: Walla Walla USA
tailight ground
Hmmmmmm... I do not have any turn signals. I took them off years ago. My brake lights and lights were working up until I replaced my taillights and picked up so new replica ones. Everything appears to be wired but obviously I have a problem. Is the ground inside of the light? Jim
http://www.48f-1.com
http://www.48f-1.com
Senior User
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 154
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From: Campbell U S A
tailight ground
Hey Jim,
The ground for your tail lights, brake lights and even the turn signals, if you had them, would be through the tail light housing and to wherever you have it mounted. My guess would be that if you have tail lights working in both and only one brake light working, the connections to the brake light circuit are not there. Check them and make sure they are going to the right wires. Partial grounds to the chassis can make strange things happen too, so be sure they're good and clean. Hopefully, you have a schematic diagram for your truck. I never get close the wire harness without one. Whatever you do, have fun man!
Craig in Campbell
The ground for your tail lights, brake lights and even the turn signals, if you had them, would be through the tail light housing and to wherever you have it mounted. My guess would be that if you have tail lights working in both and only one brake light working, the connections to the brake light circuit are not there. Check them and make sure they are going to the right wires. Partial grounds to the chassis can make strange things happen too, so be sure they're good and clean. Hopefully, you have a schematic diagram for your truck. I never get close the wire harness without one. Whatever you do, have fun man!
Craig in Campbell
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,813
Likes: 6
From: Connecticut
tailight ground
It's time to get out the test light and check the ground in that light. also make sure the body of the lamp is grounded ok to the bracket and in turn the bracket is grounded ok to the body. try a temporary jumper wire to the frame from the light body to see if the grounds are ok. If it works, then I'd say there's a ground problem for sure.Could even be a bad socket in the lamp. try swapping bulbs if you haven't done so already. test the leads for power with someone stepping on the pedal. You can use a 12V test light, it just won't glow as bright.
