2003 Jeep TJ rear lights

Tiny
BURGGRAF1202
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 JEEP WRANGLER TJ
  • 4.0L
  • V6
  • 4WD
  • MANUAL
  • 150,000 MILES
My rear turn signals, and hazards don't work. All my front lights work properly, and so do my break lights. I have a Hidden Hitch. If you turn on turn signals, and look at the dash, you would think they're working right, but they aren't flashing. If you turn on blinkers and press on break u can hear the relay switch going fast like the bulbs are blown. I have checked blinker fuse and fuse under hood. I have changed both blinker lights, and made sure they were the correct lights.
Tuesday, July 29th, 2014 AT 1:59 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Make sure you have a good ground and check to see if there are any pinched chafed wires by your hidden Hitch it may have then check to see if your combination flasher is getting and sending power. Fuse 27 underhood is one of the fuses that gives it power. You may have a wiring issue back by hitch as fronts work and are same color wire going to back or a broken /partially grounded wire
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Tuesday, July 29th, 2014 AT 3:31 PM
Tiny
BURGGRAF1202
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Can't find any bad wires. Here is picture of ground and wire harness. Fuse 27 is good
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Tuesday, July 29th, 2014 AT 3:48 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Check the wires where I've pointed in those areas, that looks like it may be a trailer ground wire and the one area where the tape/open area is doesn't look to good either. It can stll be the combination flasher as well or the ground for the lights although if brake lights work and are bright then it may lead to the flasher. You can probe the drk/grn and brn/red wires to see if they are getting power if they are then it's probably a socket or bulb problem. A test light works best for that.
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Tuesday, July 29th, 2014 AT 4:40 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC II
  • MEMBER
  • 222 POSTS
REALLY STUPID QUESTION

YOU HAVE 1157 BULBS IN THE TAIL LIGHT HOUSINGS

LOOKING AT THE BULB (UNINSTALLED)

THERE ARE 2 PINS ON THE SIDE OF THE METAL PART

ONE IS "HIGH"

THE OTHER IS "LOW"

MANY PEOPLE JUST "CRAM 'EM IN" WITHOUT INSURING THE "LOW PIN" SHOULD FOLLOW THE LONGEST/ DEEPEST TRACK INTO THE SOCKET (IN DOING THIS, THE "HIGH PIN" WILL FALL INTO PLACE IN THE SHALLOWER TRACK)

IF I'M WHIZZING IN THE WIND

RUN YOU A TEMPORARY WIRE FROM THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF THE BATTERY (VISE GRIP IT ONTO THE BATTERY CLAMP IF POSSIBLE)

I HAVE LOTS OF LONG JUMPER WIRES WITH ALLIGATOR CLIPS ON 'EM, I USE THEM LIKE THIS AND TO TROUBLESHOOT TRAILER WIRING

RUN AROUND BACK AND TAKE OFF THE LENS OF EACH LIGHT ASSEMBLY

INSIDE YOU WILL SEE A METAL PLATE IN WHICH THE SOCKET IS ATTACHED

HOLD THIS LONG TEMPORARY GROUND WIRE TIGHT AGAINST THE PLATE

DID YOUR LIGHTS IMPROVE?

IS YOUR HIDDEN HITCH DEALEE SORTA JUST PLUGGED INLINE TO YOUR HARNESS? IF SO, CAN YOU TAKE IT OUT OF THE EQUATION AND HOOK THE ORIGINAL HARNESS BACK TOGETHER?

THE MEDIC
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Tuesday, July 29th, 2014 AT 6:16 PM
Tiny
BURGGRAF1202
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I will try all these tomorrow. I forgot to mention reverse lights don't work either. So only lights that work in back are breaks and running lights.
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Tuesday, July 29th, 2014 AT 6:40 PM
Tiny
BURGGRAF1202
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
The medal braket inside my taillights are completely rusted. Is that my ground and if it's rusted would it make all this happen?
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Thursday, July 31st, 2014 AT 8:10 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
If it's just rust probably not but if it's gone completely through then probably just run awire to taillights and see if it corrects it you only need clips on it for a quick test if it does then yo found your problem.
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Thursday, July 31st, 2014 AT 9:26 AM

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