Tail lights not working (yes, I searched)

[baker27]

Ok, so sorry in advance for the lengthy post, but I want people to know everything.

About a month ago, I set out on the adventure of painting the car with the aid of a buddy that knows how to paint. Well, we tore everything apart and got the body all painted and got it back out so I could go on to put in some aftermarket gauges (boost and EGT) on a pillar pod.

Well I ran the gauges to the "Gauges" fuse on the fuse block, as I figured that would work well since the lights would come on with the car. Mind you, there are aftermarket gauge faces on it that the previous owner had installed that are white face with blue numbers and stuff, they are run to the same fuse. I figured I would put a higher amp fuse on there to keep it from blowing on me, so I did and it worked just fine when I hooked up the battery to test it.

Ok, so a little background on the original tail lights, one bulb was missing completely (the passenger tail light on the left side of the housing), so I replaced that before ever trying to get it to work. Sure enough, I blow the 15 amp fuse under the hood labeled "Tail Lights". So I do what any good dsmer does and got on the forum and searched and found a few answers (check the dimmer switch, check that wire going to the stereo, get a new fuse for the blown fuse in the fuse block under the hood..).

I disconnected the dimmer entirely as I figure that eliminates it as a possible suspect of killing the fuse, I retaped the wire to ensure it didn't ground, and unplugged the reverse light/license plate light plug to ensure that wasn't shorting on me. I still fried a 15 amp immediately, the same with a 20 and 25. As you can imagine, I was dreading going through the wiring harness to find a worn through insulation in one of the wires.

In the meantime, I get this idea to remove the bulb that was never in the housing just to make sure nothing was wrong there and I put in my last fuse, a 30 amp, to try that. Well, that worked at first. But, I am not sure when, some time after starting to drive it, I'm sure, it even fried that. I am lost as it gets here guys. All is hooked up again, except the dimmer switch which I think I forgot to hook back up. And the blue lit aftermarket gauge faces are lit up and so are the pillar gauges I got, but neither the needles nor the dash lights are on.

In the hatch area, where the wires all are for the tail lights, there are a couple plugs that I have no idea what they go to. There is one white one on the far passenger side and a black one in the very middle. Not to mention, I disconnected the plug that I think had a sensor for the security system on the hatch lock.

Besides what I mentioned above, I messed with absolutely nothing electrical besides disconnecting the battery while it sat. The brake lights, turn signals, head lights, and all the interior courtesy lights work fine too. Im lost here guys, if anyone has any ideas of something stupid I forgot or did wrong, please feel free to slap me in the face with it.

I think thats everything, but feel free to ask anything, I can take pictures of whatever if it helps. Thanks for reading.

-Adam

 

[boostedjay32]

I understand how you feel im having the same problem

 

[ttsrq]

It does sound like you have a short in there, if you check the socket where you install the bulb is the end piece that touches the bottom of the bulb touching the housing? Other then that you can check for continuity through the wires and see if they are grounding out some where. If they are shorting out and you CANT find them you could wire in your passenger tail light to the drivers side tail light until you find your problem.

 

[baker27]

It does sound like you have a short in there, if you check the socket where you install the bulb is the end piece that touches the bottom of the bulb touching the housing? Other then that you can check for continuity through the wires and see if they are grounding out some where. If they are shorting out and you CANT find them you could wire in your passenger tail light to the drivers side tail light until you find your problem.

I'll check for that short. But neither tail works at this point, so wiring one to the other isn't really an option. I hate electrical problems...

 

[ttsrq]

Oh sorry I thought you were saying that only the LH side is not working. Electrical problems are not to bad once you have an idea of how things work. If you have a Haynes manual there are schematics of how your lights will be wired in, where the fuses are etc. If you need help with this you can scan the page and ill look at it.