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Tail Lights not lighting

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Old Nov 14, 2012 | 06:25 PM
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Default Tail Lights not lighting

1990 Corvette Base.

Bought "as is". I've got it running, chasing down all the issues at this point.

My tail lights don't work
. Brake lights WORK. Turn Signal Work. Headlights WORK. Tail lights are non functional.

History: Unknown, but someone has been up to something. The two complete light Assembly were not attached to the car, screws missing. They are just stuck in the hole.
One of the passenger light bulbs were out of the assembly and dangling within the bumper.
Also- Both rear wheel wells have all the screws taken out of the back. As if to get access.
I put in a new bulb. I wish it was that easy. didn't work.
I checked the the 10 amp fuse in the dash on the passenger. It is good.

Any ideas?

I need to get this fix prior to getting the required safety "Tax" done. Then I'll have my plate and be able to put some miles on this bad boy.
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Old Nov 14, 2012 | 07:04 PM
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Have you checked the grounds?
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Old Nov 14, 2012 | 07:34 PM
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The ones on the Frame behind the battery box on the drivers dide and the wiper fluid on the passenger side?

No.

But seeing how the LED in the dash is acting erratic (not working), I think that is the best place to start.

Anyone have a picture of these famous "grounds"?
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Old Nov 14, 2012 | 07:34 PM
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Do the console lights work. They are on the same fuse. I dont remember what its labeled as, instrument panel or tail lights. Mine blows every 2 years just for the fun of it.
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Old Nov 14, 2012 | 10:03 PM
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There was a single fuze missing. The first one. The only 15 amp one. I believe it is named instrument. I stuck a 10 in it. The heater came on, (one less issue, yea!). So did the interior lights.

But not the tail lights,,, but I'm starting to second guess myself.

I'm going outside to check.

Before I Forget- I found the 65 page thread about the ground. Bill Curee is the SME.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...n-long-65.html
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Old Nov 14, 2012 | 11:40 PM
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Not on a Vette, but on another GM car, I had the same issue. It turned out to be the headlight switch.
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Old Nov 15, 2012 | 12:00 AM
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The lights didn't come on.

Sucks.

Back to dealing with the ground.
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Old Nov 16, 2012 | 11:58 PM
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I posted in Bill Curlee Important Electrical information thread.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...post1582352977

My post is on page 66, post #1303.

They are suggesting grounding it to see if it will come on.
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Old Nov 17, 2012 | 07:17 PM
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I cleaned up the Rust under the battery tray.

Heres one of the grounds- I cut it away and put a new eyelet on.



Amazing all the grounds come together here. There is a single wire leaving here, runs under the door. Why couldn't they just be grounded here? Or are these Hot wires?



Anyone know where the wire leaving ends up?

So I looked at the switch. Someone has opened it up before,,,,,,

Heres the back of it.



How do I test this?
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Old Nov 17, 2012 | 07:22 PM
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Those are 12v+, not grounds.
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Old Nov 17, 2012 | 07:51 PM
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Originally Posted by JackDidley
Those are 12v+, not grounds.
Now they are well cleaned 12v+.

In taking off the Headlight switch, I discovered the column turn signal, high/low dimmer switch has been "worked on" and has wires hanging off of it.

I discovered this when I tried to turn on the wipers. They didn't work.

This is starting to suck, the good thing is that there are less and less things left that could be broke.
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Old Nov 18, 2012 | 09:23 AM
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I had the same problem on my 87.

Headlights,turn signals,brake lights and courtesy lights all worked.

No dash, parking or tail lights.

Turns out the P.O. installed an after market radio and 'accidentally' connected the brown 'display light' wire to ground, which took out not only the dash lights, but the parking and tail lights too.

Cut and taped the brown wire, replaced the fuse and all is well.

Last edited by Keystring; Nov 18, 2012 at 09:26 AM.
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Old Nov 18, 2012 | 11:51 AM
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When I checked the fuzes, the instrument fuze had been removed.
That, and the stereo is missing. I do not know if it was an after market or the original.
I do know that there is a rats nest of wires where the stereo should be.
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Old Nov 18, 2012 | 11:45 PM
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Rats nest-



I cut all the speaker wires for now.

Two wires were connected, one unlabeled (12v+), and one labeled backup camera (I don't have a backup camera). There was also a Ground, which WAS NOT connected. I connected a short lead, lead it to ground, no effect, still no tail lights.

The connected wires run to the passenger side dash. Right below the fuze box, they connected here-



There were two other connectors right next to it NOT Connected-



I connected them-



Still no tail lights.

I don't think this is helping me. What I need is an indoor garage with heat and good lights to see what I'm doing.

I can fix this.

Note- Did I mention the turn signal? And that my wipers don't work?

Turn Signal Switch-

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Old Nov 18, 2012 | 11:50 PM
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There is a guy parting out a 93 in the parts section, You might be better off getting his whole column, if his is good.
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Old Nov 19, 2012 | 04:14 AM
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You're really going to need the FSM if you want to track this problem down.
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Old Nov 19, 2012 | 12:44 PM
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I have one. (Be an digital one bought online)

And it doesn't tell me how to test the head light switch.
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To Tail Lights not lighting

Old Nov 21, 2012 | 12:30 AM
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Originally Posted by byronhunter
Looking at this Schematic, I'd forget the red wire??????
---------------------------------------------------------
Connector Part Information
15326842
10-Way F Metri-Pack 150 GT Series (BLK)
Connector Part Information
15326847
10-Way M Metri-Pack 150 GT Series (BLK)

Pin
Wire Color
Circuit No.
Function
Pin
Wire Color
Circuit No.
Function

A
BRN
9
Park Lamp Feed
A
BRN
9
Park Lamp Feed

B
LT GRN
24
Backup Lamp Feed
B
LT GRN
24
Backup Lamp Feed

C
GRY
120
Fuel Pump Motor Feed
C
GRY
120
Fuel Pump Motor Feed

D
BRN
641
Ignition Positive Voltage
D
BRN
641
Ignition Positive Voltage

E
PNK
339
Ignition Positive Voltage
E
PNK
339
Ignition Positive Voltage

F
LT BLU
20
Center High Mount Stop Lamp Feed
F
YEL
820
Center High Mount Stop Lamp Feed

G
GRY
1524
Backup Lamp Input
G
GRY
1524
Backup Lamp Input

H
RED
122
Rear Fog Lamp Feed (Europe)
H
RED
122
Rear Fog Lamp Feed

J
ORN
1040
RTD Relay Solenoid Supply
J
ORN
1040
RTD Relay Solenoid Supply

K
DK BLU
1944
RTD Relay Control
K
DK BLU
1944
RTD Relay Control
----------------------------------------------
Now if I can get to where the connector is.
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Old Nov 29, 2012 | 01:32 AM
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Somehow I fixed it. Moving on to my new list-

1. Fix horn
2. Figure out why wipers don't work
3. Dash display is displays mixed up
4. Install a stereo
5. New tires
6. $170 brake rotor special
7. Window moulding
8. Oh, and the headlights only open up half way now.
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Old Nov 29, 2012 | 03:15 AM
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Hope you chase down that pesky little electrical gremlin!
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