1997 Chevy Silverado Tail Lights

Tiny
RYAN JONES
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 208,560 MILES
I have a 1997 Chevorlet Silverado Z71. I have had problems for about a year and a half now. I bought the truck when I was 2 years old. Who ever owned the truck before me had a electric brake system for trailers installed. I started having problems when the truck started blowing fuses. I then took the electric brake box and wiring out the truck. I didn't unwire anything, everything was just joined together with what I call scotch locks, they are the connectors that you just slide your wire in one side and the oher wire to the side and close the top and snap it down.
I have blinkers and I have a third bake light which is working. I looked at one question where a guy had the same problem but you told him to find the white wire that had been broke. I found a white wire in the rear of the truck, by the taiil light harness. It was just cut and was taped up. I tested the wire and it is the brake light wire, but when I tried to tie it into the tail light harness everything worked. But when I pushed the brake pedal the dash lights came on. So I turned the head lights on and tried the brake lights because I knew there was a problem when the dash lights came on. The brake ligh would not work, well I guess they were working but they should change when you have the head lights on and push the brake pedal. I guess my question is where would I tie this hite wire into the harness. Or where does the white wire go. I can not find a place even on the harness where the white wire would have been. I just have 4 wires, none of them are white?

Thank You very much!
Ryan Jones
Sunday, December 7th, 2008 AT 7:37 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,833 POSTS
It sounds like the white wire is not the wire to tap into. The color wires you are looking for are, brown, running lights, yellow and green, which are blinker. For stop lights they just light both the yellow and green wires together. Most auto parts store have a wiring connnector that ionterrups the lighting loom, it works slick. Let me know if you have any problems.
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Monday, December 8th, 2008 AT 6:54 PM
Tiny
RYAN JONES
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I recently sent a message about the tail lights on my chevy and you replied about a loop that I could get to solve the problem. I am not sure about the loop you are talking about. If at all could you getme a part number or a name brand of the device you were speaking of. Thank you, Ryan
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Tuesday, December 30th, 2008 AT 10:08 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Hi, its a wiring loom, not loop. Its were all the wore comtogether to get from one place to the other. Did you see the wiring diagram. The brake light switch gets its power from the mian fuse panel. Did you check that? :-) Pelase let me know.
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Tuesday, December 30th, 2008 AT 8:08 PM
Tiny
RYAN JONES
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I am sure you have heard enough about this truck and its tail light problem. I just have somemore questions. I too the fuse block apart underthe dash and used a test light to test for power. Every thing checks out. So where would I need to check ext. I really appreciate yourtime with this matter.
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Thursday, January 1st, 2009 AT 2:12 PM
Tiny
RYAN JONES
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I think I have got the problem figured out. I believe it is the problem is the multi function switch. It has thrown me for a loop because everything worked but the brakes. I am going to just replace the switch and then go from there. I thank you for your time and patientswith this matter.
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Thursday, January 1st, 2009 AT 3:34 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
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Hi, I was thinking about your problems, does the white wire have power when the trailer is hooked up, I think the white wire you speak of might be a system ground. It would light up if the ground was bad. Check it out and get back to me.
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Thursday, January 1st, 2009 AT 7:21 PM
Tiny
COTTONTOP88
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Hi I have a 97 Chevy pickup I just bought and am trying to fix up. I am having some wiring problems with the break lights everything else is working but the break lights won't. I replaced the switch that connects with the break pedel thinking it might be bad but no go. There is a white wire in the wiring harness under the truck that lights up when the break is pressed but it wasn't hooked to nothing
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Saturday, January 2nd, 2016 AT 3:03 PM

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