No tail lights, 78 Cheyenne

**jdanger** · 07-19-2008, 05:14 AM

My tail lights are not coming on, I have brakes and turn signals. The fuse is good too, just no tail lights. Could it be a short somewhere? I'll know tomorrow also if my battery is draining, it did it yesterday and thought I had a bad battery but it charged up well and seemed fine all day. I tried to look at all of the wires from the cab on back and didn't see any exposed and touching metal, but gonna go through it all again tomorrow. Any suggestions or help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Joe

**collinsperformance** · 07-19-2008, 11:25 AM

if the turn and 4ways come on the wiring is good. I bet the brake switch is out of alignment or bad. look on the brake pedal assembly up under the dash and look for the switch and see if the brake hits it and then see if there is 12 volts to it.............mike

**Rumpamuro** · 07-19-2008, 11:37 AM

Is it tails or brake lights that dont come on?

Do your front headlights and parking lights come on?

**retired2001** · 07-19-2008, 02:17 PM

I had a '77 and from what I can remember, there was a problem with "grounding" at the tail lights, so if all else fails might try there.

**jdanger** · 07-19-2008, 04:12 PM

Originally Posted by Rumpamuro

Is it tails or brake lights that dont come on?

Do your front headlights and parking lights come on?

It is just the tail/running rear lights. Headlights, parking lights, brake lights all work fine.... figured it was a short somewhere but even looking again today can't find any bare wires touching metal.

**jdanger** · 07-19-2008, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by collinsperformance

if the turn and 4ways come on the wiring is good. I bet the brake switch is out of alignment or bad. look on the brake pedal assembly up under the dash and look for the switch and see if the brake hits it and then see if there is 12 volts to it.............mike

The brake lights work though.....

**collinsperformance** · 07-19-2008, 04:30 PM

sorry i miss read that. take a volt meter and see if there is 12-15 volts to the rear socket when the light switch is on and the running lights should be on. if you got volts to the socket it is a ground issue. if there is not 12 volts then the light switch might be the issue........mike

**inspectormatt** · 08-07-2008, 06:39 PM

If there is no power at the taillight socket, it could be a broken wire in the turn signal switch wiring assembly in the steering column. Check the wires from the turn signal switch in the steering wheel down to the connector that is mounted on the steering column towards the firewall. I had no brake lights once because of a broken wire at the connector.