Taillight Failure

[deadwoodgregg]

I have a taillight out on a vehicle. I have tried replacing with new bulbs multiple times with no luck.

Brake light and turn signals work.

What are the different possibilities on what could be wrong?

OV35 mechanics go...……..

[ChazWood]

Somewhere in the Universe there's another burnt out taillight that's connected to your taillight thru quantum entanglement and is preventing your taillight from lighting.

Find that other burnt out taillight, replace it and voila!

[BS57]

I have a taillight out on a vehicle. I have tried replacing with new bulbs multiple times with no luck.

Brake light and turn signals work.

What are the different possibilities on what could be wrong?

OV35 mechanics go...……..

Could you be a little more specific on vehicle?

Car, bike, classic (older-1157), newer (composite)?

If you can use a volt meter, check the socket for voltage (assuming 12v), if none, start tracing back.

[MajorTendonitis]

It’s a separate wire , let that sink in

[Fatkidwholifts]

Fuse?

[BS57]

It’s a separate wire , let that sink in

Yes, and I should have been more clear....in checking the proper side (area) which powers the tail light side of the bulb.

[Bando]

It's worth cleaning the terminal/socket where it sits with a little steel wool, or looking at your fuse diagram as suggested.

[MajorTendonitis]

The bulb your using to replace the original does have two separate elements inside it right ?
Would be funny as hell if it didn’t lol

[deadwoodgregg]

Somewhere in the Universe there's another burnt out taillight that's connected to your taillight thru quantum entanglement and is preventing your taillight from lighting.

Find that other burnt out taillight, replace it and voila!

I have Paul Drake on it now. Confident in his ability to find the little bugger and put an end to this nightmare ASAP.

Could you be a little more specific on vehicle?

My old 2002 S-10 beater truck that I refuse to let die. Every time that something breaks, I come here seeking old people wisdom.

It's worth cleaning the terminal/socket where it sits with a little steel wool.

Socket has "bulb grease gunk" in it.

The bulb your using to replace the original does have two separate elements inside it right ?
Would be funny as hell if it didn’t lol

Yes, I replaced with the correct bulb.

Fuse?

Ahhhh yes!! Back to the basics. I will start with the easy solution first. Thanks brah.

[Plateauplower]

Check the fuse, then clean socket, check 12v power with multimeter. I’d probably replace the socket if no power before trying to look for a ground/wire issue.

[Brackneyc]

No tail lights on either side?

[deadwoodgregg]

No tail lights on either side?

Just one side not working.


Also, if this helps, my trailer lights worked fine when I used it a couple of days ago.

[Brackneyc]

Just one side not working.


Also, if this helps, my trailer lights worked fine when I used it a couple of days ago.

If one side works, it’s not a fuse. Could be a ground. If the trailer pigtail is aftermarket, check those connections. Sometimes wires end up touching stuff they shouldn’t be touching.

A test light could reveal the issue as well. Start by checking the socket for power with a 12v test light.

[BS57]

Tail light uses 1-wire, brake/turn use another, then there's a ground. Wiring runs from cab to rear bumper, and there's generally a connector at the area of cab/bed gap. Still, only a single wire for tail lights, as it splits at the rear bumper area (for left/right tails).

Not a fuse, as mentioned, as other side works.

Something you might look for, if truck has a trailer hitch/wiring, the simplest way to hack the wiring is using those blue clamshell type connectors (junk), which can easily lead to a broken wire. Ground (as mentioned) another. The issue is at the back of the bed/bumper. so it shouldn't be hard to find.

[Clinos]

Probably a hot lead, check the wiring to see if some part of it has become exposed and is touching the metal surface. While there check the other side as well to see what it is drawing, could be a bad leg.
Did this on my bike a few years ago, replaced the fuse 5 times dropped a screw while putting the seat back on and noticed a wire rub, I was so pissed this didn't occur to me to check first.

[deadwoodgregg]

FIXED

Took my truck to a local auto electric shop. The problem was a short in the trailer harness (not factory). Took the guy almost 1 1/2 hrs. to trace the problem and fabricate a new wiring harness. He did a real professional looking job and had everything wrapped well.


Thanks again gentlemen!! Deadwood reps to those that commented once I recharge.

[Lou1se]

You're happy with it and that is all that matters.

May I ask how much he charged you for it?

[BS57]

You're happy with it and that is all that matters.

May I ask how much he charged you for it?

lol....funniest part of that pic is, it was actually more work than replacing the brake light switch.

[OldFartTom]

Reading thread... thinking title was some euphemism I hadn't heard of. But it's about a tail light bulb! Are you trying to trick us?

[Lou1se]

Forget the tail light bulb - there's nothing wrong with it!

Gregg's truck was at the shop and needed rewiring. It was easier to attach them to a new switch than to run them
through the same one, as it required more work with ripping the old ones out.

So young Billy Jnr, the very efficient auto-electrician, happened to have a brand spanking new switch lying around
with the words 'brake lights' on it. They were all out of 'tail light' switches. And if you look closer at the picture
you'll see the exposed wires right there, NOT wrapped as well as Gregg describes, but for treefiddy who
in their right mind would complain..right?

[Bando]

FIXED

Took my truck to a local auto electric shop. The problem was a short in the trailer harness (not factory). Took the guy almost 1 1/2 hrs. to trace the problem and fabricate a new wiring harness. He did a real professional looking job and had everything wrapped well.


Thanks again gentlemen!! Deadwood reps to those that commented once I recharge.

Wife slow hit a deer with our daily. I drove it for 4 days with no turning signal, one headlight out and and no wiper fluid option.

Posted an ad in a local FB group, basically "fix this stuff, $50/ hr minimum $50."

Had a kid with 20 years experience, ASCE certified etc. rip right through each problem and fix it.

$100 and no missed work time since he did it on an evening.