Tail Lights Not Coming On

[Jay95GST]

Okay so I bought a 1995 Eclipse GST about two months ago and have been doing all the maintenance on the car before I start modding it. I just started driving it a few days ago and notice that when I turn the headlight switch on the headlights go on but not the Taillights. I have changed the Bulbs and they work fine when I press the brakes and with the turn signals and hazard lights. I have checked every where but have not found anything on this. Any idea as to what it could be?

 

[blindboarder_02]

Do your dash lights come on when you turn on the lights? My first assumption is a relay, fuse or faulty wiring. Start with the cheapest/easiest first.

 

[95TalonOwner]

Check your tail light fuse.

 

[Jay95GST]

Oh sorry, The dash lights do not come on as well but the gauges still work. I will check the fuses when I get off of work and the wiring under the Dash.

 

[Jay95GST]

Okay, So I got out of work late today so when I got home the sun was long gone. However I did look under the dash with a flash light to get a look at what was going on, I was not able to tell which one was the brake light fuse but I did see some hacking from previous owner. I saw two wires going in with two fuses. One white the other orange. I found out that the white one was the power to the after market cd player (Why he routed it to the fuse is my guess?)...... I also noticed a plug that was unconnected. I have included pictures of both cases(Sorry if it is hard to see but it was dark outside)..... Where does that plug go to and what is it for? Also which fuse is the tail light fuse?

 

[blindboarder_02]

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/new...ged-7-7-cover-map-fuses-diagram-location.html

Try here for fuse lookup

I'm not sure about the wire into fuse box rig. The unplugged pigtail could be a few things. An option that would have come with the car and wasn't installed? Hopefully another member can identify it.

 

[boosted99_420]

Ahh I had same problem a wire came loose and I reground it to car. My wire was behind radio, but also check fuses and all to be double sure.

 

[turbodude]

Yeah, pretty much what everyone else said.... On a second note, that orange wire in the first pic being tapped into that 10 amp fuse is a pretty substandard way tap power, not very secure and puts extra current draw where there shouldn't be. I assume it was the previous owners work? I'd take care of all those kind of things too while your under there and rewire all that jazz the right way. Sometimes the first thing you need to do when you buy a car like this is remove or redo the previous owners installs, .

 

[Jay95GST]

Okay, So I saw your responses and could not go to sleep so I went out side with a bunch of flashlights and started checking fuses in the engine bay and the kick panel. All fuses seem fine minus some fuses that were in the wrong locations. I fixed the locations and put new ones just to be sure but nothing. Still only the headlights turn on.... I did notice however that some wires in the Engine Harness were cut. I am thinking that one of those wires are the taillight wires since the fuse is in the engine bay. I just ordered a engine harness and hopefully that will fix the issue. Let me know what you guys think...... Also I wanted to thank everyone and this site. All the information has been extremely helpfull being that this is my first DSM and Turbo engine...... And yes I am doing all maintenance first and un-doing all the hacking from previous owner(Which unfortunately has been a lot).... I will keep you guys updated once the new harness arrives and is installed. Let me know if you guys have any other ideas on the issue.

 

[ktgurl87]

I was having the same issue with my GS. My issue ended up being the Alternator fuse being shoved on top of an old broken one so it wasn't in correctly. If I remember correctly, the GST's don't have the same kind of layout in the bay.

If I were you, I would do a rewire on your radio and see what that clears up. I personally can't stand half-assed wiring jobs. It's almost like a fire waiting to happen :\

 

[MountainDew Man]

Mines had this issue too mines only needed the taillight wiring harness the taillight harnesses are faulty in the 2g's all of the 2g's in my house have had some issues with the taillight harnesses that's the only thing I can think of besides the cut wires you were talking about.

 

[boostedjay32]

Replace your dimmer switch. Cheap fix.

 

[Jay95GST]

ISSUE RESOLVED- Changed the dimmer switch and the tail light harness and its working great now! Thanks everyone again for the help!