The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay One tail light out

Just found out today that one of my tailights is out. I changed the bulb and still no result. I noticed when my right turn blinker light lit up and stayed green when i flicked on the switch, instead of blinking. I also noticed when my headlights are on my tailights dont come on like modern cars, unless i turn on my blinker or hit the brake. Is there a problem or do those lights just not stay on with the headlights? Also, isn't that illegal? Thanks in advance,

Preston

Sounds like you have either a bad ground, a break in the wire or possibly a bad headlite switch...Joe

What does a bad ground mean, the ground wire isnt touching metal or something?

Yes, or there could be rust between the housing & whatever its bolted too or if there is ground wire it could be broken..Joe

Ok, i fiddled with it a little, still same thing going on. When headlights are on, tailights arent on as running lights, when i hit the brakes, the left tailight is on. The blinker works for left tailight, the right tailight doesnt come on at all and the green blinker signal in the cab lights up green but does not blink. I took the bulb and tailight housing from the left side and tried it on the right, still nothing. There is about 13 volts running to the left tailight and 10 to the right. I really dont know much about electrical but i did get a couple of pics of that helps. See the link below, thanks.

http://s101.photobucket.com/albums/m66/prestonmallard/

'''Sounds like you have either a bad ground, a break in the wire or possibly a bad headlite switch'''

good guess

preston,
'''What does a bad ground mean, the ground wire isnt touching metal or something?'''
electrical circuits work because they need a power sourse and a return to ground. by havong a complete circuit +/- the lamp lights. if you have a bad ground several things can happen. like nothing works or dim lamps both LED's and incandesant bulbs, or the list goes on. bad grounds (gnd) effect anything that requires juice to operate. the best thing anybolter can do is check your truck and make absolutely sure ALL gnds are solid
battery to main frame
engine to main frame
cab to main frame
gas tank to main frame
bed to main frame
bed and or roll pan to main frame
radiator to main frame.
THIS means a good bare metal scraping and a good solid wire to each part. i coat all bolts after i have done this w/ an anti-corrosive paste, NCP-? , so no air gets to and or water which starts corrosion/rusting. available at any flaps or battery supply.
double check the rt ground wire....
BTW LED's work on very little voltage.

a good tool to have when shooting electrical trouble is a test light. they are easy to make or just go buy one. a VOM is another great tool. about $30-40 total. if you buy good tools they last a lift time...... unless some sorry Ba-_t@$d steals them.
when someone tells you to check this or that a test light can easily do this.

have you or anyone else it the vehicles history changed the steering wheel or changed the canceling cam on the turn switch my 64 had that and it cam down to the reed contacts in the switch not working correctly good luck

found the prob. stupid mistake on my part. I recently put in a cb radio and while doing so must have nudged the quick connect for my tail lights. It's a 3 prong quick connect and only one was hooked up, explaining why one light worked. plugged it in and everythings fine. Thanks for suggestions everyone!