442 No tail lights

[Jims442]

Can anyone give me some basic ideas where to start other then what I've already done. All my lights work except tail lights and rear side marker lights. I've tried changing bulbs and changing light switch on dash. Wires seem in good shape not brittle . One thing I didn't check is the fuse Is the fuse separate for the tail lights or would I have other lights out as well?sorry I just thought of that normally I would check fuses first lol.

 

[fleming442]

Pretty sure the parking lights are a common fuse for front and rear. Start by seeing if you have power on the dark brown at the light socket, then if still no power, work your way forward. there is a plug that connects the aluminum ribbon cable to the exterior harness inside the trunk, on the floor, rear, driver's side. Check the ground while you're there; sometimes the brake or turn signals can pull ground through the parking light filaments.

 

[Jims442]

Pretty sure the parking lights are a common fuse for front and rear. Start by seeing if you have power on the dark brown at the light socket, then if still no power, work your way forward. there is a plug that connects the aluminum ribbon cable to the exterior harness inside the trunk, on the floor, rear, driver's side. Check the ground while you're there; sometimes the brake or turn signals can pull ground through the parking light filaments.

Ty

 

[hoffa65]

Check the ground to frame on rear lights all share a common ground point
Next check the harness connection driver side well in trunk

 

[HAFROD]

Ground wire at left rear of trunk floor. Will be a 7mm or 9/32 headed screw. Common for wire to be broken at connector

 

[Jims442]

Ground wire at left rear of trunk floor. Will be a 7mm or 9/32 headed screw. Common for wire to be broken at connector

Would that ground cause just the tail lights not to work?

 

[pontiacgp]

check the left side of the fuse box, there is a connection there with the harness for the rear lights. The brown wire which I think id the 3rd from the bottom is the wire for the rear lights. The harness is made with single strand aluminum wires which corrodes so see if the wire is broken at the harness, if not and you have power there check the connector for that harness in the trunk to see if you have power there. If you don't then you'll have to find where the wire is broken. If someone put a trailer light harness and used the aluminum wires with a quick connection then that is where your problem is.

if your brake lights work they use the same ground as the lights so I don't think the ground is where your problem is

 

[Jims442]

check the left side of the fuse box, there is a connection there with the harness for the rear lights. The brown wire which I think id the 3rd from the bottom is the wire for the rear lights. The harness is made with single strand aluminum wires which corrodes so see if the wire is broken at the harness, if not and you have power there check the connector for that harness in the trunk to see if you have power there. If you don't then you'll have to find where the wire is broken. If someone put a trailer light harness and used the aluminum wires with a quick connection then that is where your problem is.

if your brake lights work they use the same ground as the lights so I don't think the ground is where your problem is

Yes they do Ty

 

[HAFROD]

Guess I missed the part about brake lights working

 

[Jims442]

Guess I missed the part about brake lights working

So from what your'e saying my problem most likely is a break in the wire.