1971 LeMans Tail Light Issue

[Hazel]

A week ago, did a car cruise and all was fine. Then a cop pulled me over and said my taillights were out. He said my brake lights and signals work but no taillights. They had always worked fine.

I checked the fuse and sure enough...blown. I put a new 20A in and pulled on the headlight switch and saw the glow under the dash. Immediately blown. Is there a common place that goes bad or any suggestions would be appreciated (and don't say to only drive the car during the day!).

 

[92 Sunbird LE]

All I can say is check for bare wires, follow the harness to the back, usually runs under the drivers side sill panel and carpet and back seat then the trunk, check the taillights sockets and wiring.

Could be the switch itself, but usually its a bare positive wire gounding out.

Doug in P.R.

 

[cammerjeff]

The only time I had that issue was with a 1983 Cutlass. It ended up being a bent pin on the firewall connector on the fuse box, took me almost a week to find it. It had worked fine for 80,000 miles before it started. Just something to think about.

 

[cammerjeff]

I would replace the fuse with a curcuit breaker for trouble shooting. I would then disconnect the rear light harness in the trunk to see if the fuse/breaker still blow.

______________________________

 

[Hazel]

Quick update...I changed the headlight switch and that solved the problem. I was suspect as when I bought the car, the dash lights weren't working...then they suddenly did. That was months ago so I never thought about it again. Anyway, problem solved. Thanks for the advice!

 

[cammerjeff]

Thanks for the update