93 Chevy c/k 1500 4WD V6 - electrical

Tiny
ASELLE
  • MEMBER
  • CHEVROLET TRUCK
My running lights, instrument panel (tach) light won't work. My brake lights and reverse lights work in the back. I checked the bulbs and they are fine. The instrument panel light has been on and off for awhile but the tail lights just went out recently when I hooked up a trailer for the first time. When pulling the trailer home the running lights on the truck and the trailer would flicker on and off until they finally went out. I removed the trailer harness from the main electrical system thinking there was a short but thast didn't solve the issue. Checked all the fuses and they are in good shape. Any thoughts? Is the instrument panel light and the running lights on the same circuit? Would it make sense that the running light circuit could be shorted while the circuit for the brake and reverse lights is still valid? Thanks in advance.
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2007 AT 9:58 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
PEPPERMRJ
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,158 POSTS
With weird electrical problems I start by making sure that all the ground wires are clean and tight. Test the light switch also.

Good luck and let us know. :)
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Tuesday, April 3rd, 2007 AT 10:31 PM
Tiny
ASELLE
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I'll check the grounds but there isn't a separate ground for each circuit running to the brake llights, reverse lights, and running lights is there? If the ground was bad I would think it would affect all three of those rear light components, unless they are all on an independant circuit.

I'll check the light switch as well, I assume you mean the headlight / parking lights switch?
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Wednesday, April 4th, 2007 AT 6:44 AM
Tiny
PEPPERMRJ
  • MECHANIC
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The gauge cluster and running light both share the same power source. However they would have failed at the same time. I think you have a bad bulb/s, connection, or printed circuit in the gauge cluster. The parking/headlight switch might be the other fault. If not there is a short in a common wire.

The reverse lights and brake lights have a seperate power source. They all do share body, engine, and battery grounds.

Double check where you wired in the trailer connection also. I always manage to screw them up the first time so maybe you nicked a wire or two also. :)
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Wednesday, April 4th, 2007 AT 8:18 AM

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