Tailight/reverse Light Wiring Issues

[hi2live]

Hi, I'm new to this forum and found it because i'm trying to fix my truck issues myself. Wiring, is probably the one thing I'm not too familiar with. This issue is just one of the few more I'm going to ask about later.

 

Basically, my passenger side tailight is all screwed up. My reverse light stays on while I drive with the headlights on (the drivers side is fine, just the red running lights stay on). When I brake, I don't get a brake light, but I believe the reverse light gets a little brighter. But lets say I put the truck in reverse-the drivers side reverse light goes on, but then the passenger reverse light shuts off. Lets say I want to take a right turn, I put my blinker on and the reverse light blinks!

 

So I'm thinking there's a short somewhere between the passenger reverse light and the brake light. How would I even start to diagnose the problem here?

 

BTW: its a 88 gmc sierra

[hi2live]

Hi, I'm new to this forum and found it because i'm trying to fix my truck issues myself. Wiring, is probably the one thing I'm not too familiar with. This issue is just one of the few more I'm going to ask about later.

 

Basically, my passenger side tailight is all screwed up. My reverse light stays on while I drive with the headlights on (the drivers side is fine, just the red running lights stay on). When I brake, I don't get a brake light, but I believe the reverse light gets a little brighter. But lets say I put the truck in reverse-the drivers side reverse light goes on, but then the passenger reverse light shuts off. Lets say I want to take a right turn, I put my blinker on and the reverse light blinks!

 

So I'm thinking there's a short somewhere between the passenger reverse light and the brake light. How would I even start to diagnose the problem here?

 

BTW: its a 88 gmc sierra

 

Also I forgot to add something, there was a trailer hitch on it when I bought the truck. Could it possibly be the trailer wiring box that messed it up? How would I find out?

[bossier62guy]

Hi, I'm new to this forum and found it because i'm trying to fix my truck issues myself. Wiring, is probably the one thing I'm not too familiar with. This issue is just one of the few more I'm going to ask about later.

 

Basically, my passenger side tailight is all screwed up. My reverse light stays on while I drive with the headlights on (the drivers side is fine, just the red running lights stay on). When I brake, I don't get a brake light, but I believe the reverse light gets a little brighter. But lets say I put the truck in reverse-the drivers side reverse light goes on, but then the passenger reverse light shuts off. Lets say I want to take a right turn, I put my blinker on and the reverse light blinks!

 

So I'm thinking there's a short somewhere between the passenger reverse light and the brake light. How would I even start to diagnose the problem here?

 

BTW: its a 88 gmc sierra

 

William,

Those tail lights are notorious for having problems. Take both of them out and pull off the connector plates and inspect the metal strips underneath the gaskets.....odds are they are corroded and causing your problems. You can replace them w/ new parts from your local auto parts store.

[bossier62guy]

Hi, I'm new to this forum and found it because i'm trying to fix my truck issues myself. Wiring, is probably the one thing I'm not too familiar with. This issue is just one of the few more I'm going to ask about later.

 

Basically, my passenger side tailight is all screwed up. My reverse light stays on while I drive with the headlights on (the drivers side is fine, just the red running lights stay on). When I brake, I don't get a brake light, but I believe the reverse light gets a little brighter. But lets say I put the truck in reverse-the drivers side reverse light goes on, but then the passenger reverse light shuts off. Lets say I want to take a right turn, I put my blinker on and the reverse light blinks!

 

So I'm thinking there's a short somewhere between the passenger reverse light and the brake light. How would I even start to diagnose the problem here?

 

BTW: its a 88 gmc sierra

 

William,

Those tail lights are notorious for having problems. Take both of them out and pull off the connector plates and inspect the metal strips underneath the gaskets.....odds are they are corroded and causing your problems. You can replace them w/ new parts from your local auto parts store.

 

 

BTW, the connector plates are the plastic pieces that hold the bulbs....2 screws and it's off of the tail light.