Rear Tail Light Signal

[Aussie81]

Hi All

I'm having an issue where my tail lights aren't working at all in my 81 El Camino.

I have LED digitails installed but don't believe they are the issue as theyve been working for years. I got my car back from the mechanic a few months ago and noticed my fuel gauge wasn't working and then recently noticed my tail lights weren't working either. My front lights/indicators work fine.

Things I've checked:
- tail lights fuse has power both sides
- test light on power wire into the digitails confirmed
- ground wire looks good
- checked signal out of the steering column wires with indicator on, can see power pulsing with the indicator signal
- when I test corresponding signal at the digitail there no power pulsing.
- I understand the fuel gauge is linked in the same harness to the rear so is likely linked.

Based on this info it appears there is a break somewhere after the signal splits off from the front lights, I just don't know where this is, I've looked under the dash and it goes into the main harness which makes it impossible to follow. Can anyone guide me on what to look at or where I can locate potential faults in the signalling.

Thanks in advance

Christian

 

[ELCAM]

There is a connector next to the left side of the fuse box that goes to the rear of the car, the harness goes from there down the kick panel behind the emergency brake from there it goes into a flat plastic plastic sheath that runs the length of the rocker with the aluminum body by fisher plate over it.
from there it runs inside the side of the spare tire and whatever compartment at the back wall of that compartment through a rubber grommet to under the body where it runs in split loom conduit on top of the frame to the back of the car.

First place i would look is on top of the frame above the rear wheel area since the split loom disintegrates eventually and the wire is there to endure what ever the tire throws at it.

I believe some are made with aluminum wire and prone to break anywhere it is not supported well.

 

[Aussie81]

Thanks ELCAM for the quick response. Is this the part circled red you're referring to? I assume so as I used a test light on the front but no signal however on the back the light was pulsing on the yellow wire. I cant unclip it or push it in any further but I think I may have found the issue.

Anyone have any issues with this clip/plug or have removed it? I'm mindful of forcing anything with brittle plastics.