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Tailight faliure blown fuses

1K views 5 replies 3 participants last post by  Rob Keller 
#1 ·
Hey so i have had this problem with my pickup for a month now that i have been troubleshooting and had completly forgot about bring it up here so i hope someone here can shed some light on my lighting problem

Specs-

'85 Chevy S-10 4x4 tahoe EXT CAB 5SPD 2.8L

For some reason the tailights and running lights on my Pickup stoped working. (headlights still work) The fuse would blow on the tailight/courtesy lights. So i assumed a short but none could be found in the wiring going to the chassis, and i eliminated the tailights themselves when i disconnected the connection befor the lights and they still blew.

So i replace the light switch because a section on it looked burnt. No solution.
and just resently the turnsignals stoped working too.

I installed an aftermarket Pioneer stereo in my truck and was their a while befor the problem started so i assume it was not that. it was intalled into the stock wiring.

I think i mentioned everything.

Oh one more there is glitter next to a box that the wiring to the tailight lead from and this is on the firewall. (dont ask about the glitter please it was a prom joke)
 
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#4 ·
that will eliminate the turn single and 4 way flasher
if that dont work then the brake light switch
there is a lot of different systems that all come together in the lights its complex but not to bad once you figure it out

in a nut shell
head light is its own sys
parking lights
brake lights
turn singles
all run together but are there own systems
did i make it better or worse??

sr66 :thumbup:
 
#5 ·
Truck lights

Doc here, :pimp:

First off, Does your Truck have trailer lights? If so DISCONNECT them and refuse and retest.

The MOST common cause of rear light shortage on trucks is the utility plug under the rear bumper..or at the hitch, Gets full of water, mud and other wildlife..

That being done, and results negative, than determine if your turn-signals SHARE bulbs with the tail lamps or the brake lamps..(Sorry, Do not have a diagram...so you'll have to get one...)

If it shares with the Tail/Running lamps, than that circuit will run through the steering column to isolate directional activity..(I.E you can't have both tails hooked in parallel and expect only one light to flash on an incandescent bulb, just ain't happenin'...without opening one output)

Same is true IF it shares with the brake lights...(and the most common design because it is a brighter filament)

Check to BE sure you have the proper bulbs in the PROPER sockets..a single filament bulb installed in a duel filament socket will short the two circuits together...

If all that checks ok..pull the plug at the bottom of the column, determine what are turn-signals and what are tails, brakes and inputs, check those for a dead short to ground..

Hand over hand the harness to the rear to be sure nothing is cutting or chafing the harness...

Your circuit breaker for the headlights is usually located inside the headlight switch, but since you say it works OK, then your probably fine with that...

Another thing that will cause similar problem is if you mistakenly hooked the CD memory or power line up to the dim circuit in the harness and the CD fuse blew..To check, just simply unplug the CD , refuse and test the lights...

Try those, we'll go from there..

Doc :pimp:
 
#6 ·
:thumbup: i have not been here for very long but one thing you can count on is a excellent description/diagnosis from

Doc Vett :pimp:

Doc.. you seem to be a walking, talking encyclopedia
how do ya do it?? :confused:

thanks for all the great knowledge

this sign definitely dose NOT apply to you !(see pic)

rob
sr66 :thumbup:
 

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