SPONSORED LINKS

Tail light wiring

Tiny
SSROBERTSON
  • MEMBER
  • 80 POSTS
The truck is from down south so rust is a minimum. I have been using a lead wire with clips on each end to test grounds, so I have tried different places with the same results. If both power wires are hooked up like stock (parking and turn signal) the light is very dim or off. If I use only one or the other power wires and ground the other side of the socket it works with whatever power wire is attached (parking light or turn signal). The main parking light next to it works as it should. I have switchback LED in that one (parking lights up white, then amber when turn signal is on).
Video (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
SPONSORED LINKS
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, May 30th, 2021 AT 7:29 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,192 POSTS
Is there a separate wire for the parking light and signal? I am not sure why connecting both power wires would cause a draw on power or dim the lights. And, if you disconnect one supply, the other works normally. Stupid question. If you have one of the power supplies disconnected and the opposite side working properly, if you turn the flasher on for the working side, do you get turn signal power to the unplugged side wire? If you connect your test light, do the lights dim?

At this point, the best I can suggest is to start tracing the two power wires and see where they end. Hopefully, Ken will have a few suggestions. Wow, I have never had so much trouble with lights. LOL They are usually easy. LOL

Let me know.

Joe
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, May 30th, 2021 AT 8:30 PM
Tiny
SSROBERTSON
  • MEMBER
  • 80 POSTS
There is a separate wire for both. This is a normal 194 socket. I have read that it is called something like a floating ground. This is a typical GM parking light setup. If I disconnect one side or the other I have to hook the unused wire to ground. So therefore I have to make a positive and ground for it to work correctly, but again the positive side can only be either parking or signal.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, May 30th, 2021 AT 10:21 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,192 POSTS
Hi,

Have you been able to make any progress? Ken should be in touch soon. As far as the ground, yes, there are two grounds for four different lights. Current goes one way or the other to complete a circuit.

Let me know.

Joe
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, June 2nd, 2021 AT 4:38 PM
Tiny
SSROBERTSON
  • MEMBER
  • 80 POSTS
I have not made any progress at this point. I may take a different route if I can't make any progress. I have been working on some of the other things the truck needs in the meantime. Gotta love project vehicle's.
SPONSORED LINKS
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, June 2nd, 2021 AT 4:44 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,192 POSTS
Hi,

I didn't want you to think I forgot about you. Have you been able to make any progress? I'm still waiting on Ken's ideas.

Joe
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, June 5th, 2021 AT 7:24 PM
Tiny
SSROBERTSON
  • MEMBER
  • 80 POSTS
So far I just wired it up to blink. Only answer I have at this point.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, June 5th, 2021 AT 7:26 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,192 POSTS
Okay. I will try to contact Ken again. Hopefully, he will be a bigger help than me. LOL

Take care,

Joe
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, June 5th, 2021 AT 8:41 PM
Tiny
SSROBERTSON
  • MEMBER
  • 80 POSTS
Thank you Joe.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, June 5th, 2021 AT 8:41 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,192 POSTS
I briefly spoke to Ken regarding the issues you are having. He asked if you installed a conversion kit other than the flasher relay.

Let me know.

Joe
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, June 6th, 2021 AT 6:43 PM
Tiny
SSROBERTSON
  • MEMBER
  • 80 POSTS
Conversion kit? I changed the incandescent bulbs to led bulbs front and rear. And then I changed the flasher to a LED no load flasher.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, June 6th, 2021 AT 6:58 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,192 POSTS
Hi,

That is what he suggested. I tried looking online for you and did find conversion kits. I have a feeling, this is what may need to be done.

From what I am seeing, the kit is tied into each component. Take a look online and see what you think.

Joe
SPONSORED LINKS
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, June 6th, 2021 AT 7:25 PM
Tiny
SSROBERTSON
  • MEMBER
  • 80 POSTS
Are you referring to turn signals that come as LED? I want to be sure what conversion kit you are referring to.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, June 6th, 2021 AT 7:27 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,192 POSTS
Hi,

From what I'm seeing, the HID lights are modified and ready to be installed. Take a look at this link. It will take you to a 2000 GMC Sierra that I looked up.

https://www.hidnation.com/collections/led-kits

Joe

Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, June 6th, 2021 AT 8:37 PM
Tiny
SSROBERTSON
  • MEMBER
  • 80 POSTS
Not sure how this is different than what I have. Please remember this is a custom truck and it has a newer front end on it. It's been converted to a cat eye Silverado HD (2005 ish. I included a couple pic's of what I have so you can try to get an idea of what I'm doing. Yellow is turn signal, white is parking light. Picture of rear is taillights. Led bulb is the current corner bulbs I'm using. For some reason I can't get the videos to upload as a video.
Images (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, June 6th, 2021 AT 9:09 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,192 POSTS
Does that bulb have a built-in resister? It looks like it may. If not, the only other thing I can think of is to switch them with ones like I sent you. There is a place online that may help with this. It's called HIDnation. Have you ever checked their site?

Joe
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, June 7th, 2021 AT 7:56 PM
Tiny
SSROBERTSON
  • MEMBER
  • 80 POSTS
It does not have a built-in resistor. I have seen their website before and I also checked it when you sent me the link. It doesn't appear that the bulb they show is anything special, if anything maybe a little dated (I have ran similar before). I may just call it quits and either leave them out and see if it passes inspection, maybe try something else, or just go back to factory.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 AT 6:37 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,192 POSTS
Hi,

The only thing I can think of is if there were resisters for each bulb. For some reason, I found a kit the other day, but I can't find it now.

I wish I could have been more help. Sorry about that. Regardless, if you get it figured out, I would really appreciate knowing what you found. For some reason, it isn't making sense. We are missing something simple. Not being there makes it a lot harder.

Let me know if you make progress.

Take care,

Joe
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 AT 9:51 PM
Tiny
SSROBERTSON
  • MEMBER
  • 80 POSTS
Thanks Joe. I will let you know what I figure out.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 AT 9:55 PM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Running Light Wiring Content

VIEW MORE

Sponsored links