Tail light issues need help!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,389
Likes: 9
From: Seabrook Texas
St. Jude Donor '05
Tail light issues need help!
I have a 78 and I am having tail light issues.
I did some research and found that when the tail lights and dash lights stop working it is most likely a headlight switch. I have brakes and signals, just no tailights. So I replaced the switch (that was alot of fun) and still nothing!
I am not very skilled in the electrical area! I was haveing some paint work done at a restoration shop and they "back traced" not sure if I am using the right term? They said they got them to light up and felt it might be the switch. I am not sure what to do from thins point, any suggestions?
I did some research and found that when the tail lights and dash lights stop working it is most likely a headlight switch. I have brakes and signals, just no tailights. So I replaced the switch (that was alot of fun) and still nothing!
I am not very skilled in the electrical area! I was haveing some paint work done at a restoration shop and they "back traced" not sure if I am using the right term? They said they got them to light up and felt it might be the switch. I am not sure what to do from thins point, any suggestions?
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
You changed the headlight switch?
Get a test light and make sure power is going to switch. Check fuse in fuse panel on left side of steering column. If you connect power to the brown wire for parking lights the parklights will light. Ths way you know it not bulbs. I don't think all the bulbs would blow at once though.
Does the interior light work when you turn the dimmer all the way up?
Get a test light and make sure power is going to switch. Check fuse in fuse panel on left side of steering column. If you connect power to the brown wire for parking lights the parklights will light. Ths way you know it not bulbs. I don't think all the bulbs would blow at once though.
Does the interior light work when you turn the dimmer all the way up?
Last edited by spedaleden; Mar 9, 2009 at 04:36 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,389
Likes: 9
From: Seabrook Texas
St. Jude Donor '05
You changed the headlight switch?
Get a test light and make sure power is going to switch. Check fuse in fuse panel on left side of steering column. If you connect power to the brown wire for parking lights the parklights will light. Ths way you know it not bulbs. I don't think all the bulbs would blow at once though.
Does the interior light work when you turn the dimmer all the way up?
Get a test light and make sure power is going to switch. Check fuse in fuse panel on left side of steering column. If you connect power to the brown wire for parking lights the parklights will light. Ths way you know it not bulbs. I don't think all the bulbs would blow at once though.
Does the interior light work when you turn the dimmer all the way up?
They must have put power to the tail lights since they did tell me they got them to light up? Not sure where to go from here. I guess I may just take it somewhere and tell them to fix it, I just wanted to try myself first!
Last edited by swtato; Mar 9, 2009 at 04:59 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
No interior lights
Are you sure you plugged the harness in correctly to the headlight switch? I know it sounds stupid but it happens. Does the headlamps work?
Back up and brake do not go through the headlamp switch. That is why I'm going to your headlamp switch.
Make sure the pull **** goes all the way backin. If you pull on the **** and it doesn't fall onto the floor or your hand it's in all the way.
Last edited by spedaleden; Mar 9, 2009 at 05:03 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,389
Likes: 9
From: Seabrook Texas
St. Jude Donor '05
Well the harness only fits one way, so I assume it is on correctly? The **** is in correctly and the headlamps oper and shut and turn on correctly. I got fed up with it and took it up to a local shop here and he said he would have it fixed tomorrow. We will see what happens.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,223
Likes: 666
From: Northeast
Interesting to see the findings. 
78 chassis manual has "tail,park and license lamp diagnosis"
Both sides inoperative
1. tail lamp fuse blown
2. Loose connection- secure connector at light switch
3.Open wiring- check circuit on both sides of fuse
4.Multiple bulb burnout
5.defective light switch.
78 chassis manual has "tail,park and license lamp diagnosis"
Both sides inoperative
1. tail lamp fuse blown
2. Loose connection- secure connector at light switch
3.Open wiring- check circuit on both sides of fuse
4.Multiple bulb burnout
5.defective light switch.
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
These connectors tend to corrode. One of the reasons complete harness replacement is often recommended. Clean the connectors and use some dielectric grease on the connectors when reattaching to the switch. That may solve the problem.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,389
Likes: 9
From: Seabrook Texas
St. Jude Donor '05
It was a fuse, I looked at the fuse marked tail light and it seemed fine? oh well, could have been worse. I was glad I replaced the switch anyway since now I can adjust the dash lights, before it was very dim even when turned all the way up.
One thing I did notice is when the lights are on the water temps pegs turn them off and it goes back to normal.
Any suggestions on this one?
One thing I did notice is when the lights are on the water temps pegs turn them off and it goes back to normal.
Any suggestions on this one?
Last edited by swtato; Mar 10, 2009 at 11:51 PM.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 390
Likes: 8
From: Louisiana
My 80 had the same problems. I know you just said that it was just the fuse but I'll give you my $.02 anyway. I also replaced the headlight switch like you did just because it was old, and a new one couldn't hurt anything. I changed the fuse for the taillights, and they came on with no problem. Around a few hours later the fuse blew out and off went the taillights and interior lights. I kept replacing fuses, but they kept blowing out every few hours. I looked all over my car to find the source of this headache. I found a grounded wire from my Viper car alarm that I got put on my car a month prior to the taillight issues (Thanks to the alarm place
). This was the cause of my taillights not working. I don't know if this will be the same for you, but you might want to check for grounded wires, which will take forever, if your taillight fuses pop.
Troy
). This was the cause of my taillights not working. I don't know if this will be the same for you, but you might want to check for grounded wires, which will take forever, if your taillight fuses pop.Troy
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,389
Likes: 9
From: Seabrook Texas
St. Jude Donor '05
The difficult part for me was holding the switch ack in yup against the dash with enough bressure to thread the shaft bezel/screw back on. I finally took a small phillips head screwdriver and jammed it in th ehole and then could screw it on and tightened with a blade screwdriver. THen just slide the headlight shaft ack in the switch and you are done.
Not impossible, just tight area to work in.
