Driver side taillight out 1980 corvette.
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 4
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Driver side taillight out 1980 corvette.
My '80 vette's driver side tail light is not turning on. The blinker, hazards, stop/brake light and reverse light all work as they should. It's just the rear driver side tail light that should be on at night while im in drive that is not coming on. I have tried three new bulbs and replaced the bulb socket and still get the same result. I've looked at the wiring diagram and am a little overwelmed. Does anybody have any idea what the problem could be? Any help is much appreciated.
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Just double checked other lights
Just double checked all other lights and they all work. Including my front blinker and front headlights. Before i had this issue this same tail light was doing the opposite my tail lights would run but blinker, hazards and brakes would not work on this rear driver side tail light. It wasnt until i replaced the bulb socket that my tails went out and my brakes, hazards and blinker began working. I matched up brown wire with brown wire and yellow wire with yellow wire. Is it possible my wires are crossed.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 781
Likes: 113
Just double checked all other lights and they all work. Including my front blinker and front headlights. Before i had this issue this same tail light was doing the opposite my tail lights would run but blinker, hazards and brakes would not work on this rear driver side tail light. It wasnt until i replaced the bulb socket that my tails went out and my brakes, hazards and blinker began working. I matched up brown wire with brown wire and yellow wire with yellow wire. Is it possible my wires are crossed.
You'll have power ok...and lamp and signals will work but brake or tail running-lites won't.
ONE of the hot wires is sort of the common hot wire for all systems..the other does individual functions..
With a helper..check turn signals, emergency flashers, running lites, headlites etc..The rear side lites do NOT flash when e-flashers are on..
Jim
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 4
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Flipped wires did not work
Just tried changing my two hot wires and still no luck. I double checked all the fuses afterwards and they are all good. The bulb socket has just been replaced so my ground should be good and the left rear tail light still wont light up. Any ideas, this wiring business is killing me.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
Your light socket has three wires to it. The BLACK WIRE is the ground. The BROWN WIRE is for the running lights ( which are the lights you are concerned about. The last wire...which can either be YELLOW or GREEN...depending on which side you are dealing with is for your TURN SIGNALS And BRAKE lights.
SO...if your pull your headlgith switch...and you get your license plate light to shine and the side marks shine...and the other rear light shines...that is telling me that the circuit is feeding current. SO...it is NOT a fuse.
BUT...while you have the headlgith switch pulled....you need to either use a VOLTMETER (which is best) or a test light and make sure the BROWN wire you connected to the new socket has 12 volts going to it.
ALSO..if you do not have the bulb installed correctly...it will not work. The bulb should be an 1157.
DUB
SO...if your pull your headlgith switch...and you get your license plate light to shine and the side marks shine...and the other rear light shines...that is telling me that the circuit is feeding current. SO...it is NOT a fuse.
BUT...while you have the headlgith switch pulled....you need to either use a VOLTMETER (which is best) or a test light and make sure the BROWN wire you connected to the new socket has 12 volts going to it.
ALSO..if you do not have the bulb installed correctly...it will not work. The bulb should be an 1157.
DUB
Last edited by DUB; Oct 5, 2016 at 06:36 PM.
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 4
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Thanks Dub: No voltage to brown wire
No voltage to brown wire. Yellow wire has 9 volts or so. The light bulb is an 1157 and the license plate light is running. Does it sound like i have a dead wire. Is there a connector or place you would start looking to test voltage on this brown wire? This just keeps getting better lol. Thanks for the diagnosis Dub so far you have been right on the money.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
YES...if you have a wiring diagram....you will see that the BROWN wire is your running lights. AND if you have your license plate light and side markers working...and the light for your taillight on the right side....then the BROWN wire to that light socket you replaced is now OPEN. You need to find it so you get 12 volts to the BROWN wire when you have your headlight switch on.
The YELLOW wire should only have POWER going to it IF you have that turn signal on...or your brakes are being pressed...OR you have your HAZARD SWITCH on.
DUB
The YELLOW wire should only have POWER going to it IF you have that turn signal on...or your brakes are being pressed...OR you have your HAZARD SWITCH on.
DUB
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