Tail Lights

[nukeworker]

Finished wiring. Got a problem. Got no tail lights. Head lights work (hi & lo beams), all blinkers work, back-up lights are good, brake lights work. Just no tail lights with the switch on. I'm no electrical genius. How would you trouble shoot? Used the Watson's kit. I'm using the tail lights with three bulbs. Top is for blinkers (yellow lens), middle is brake/tail light (red lens), bottom is back-up (clear lens). Please help.

[david58]

Finished wiring. Got a problem. Got no tail lights. Head lights work (hi & lo beams), all blinkers work, back-up lights are good, brake lights work. Just no tail lights with the switch on. I'm no electrical genius. How would you trouble shoot? Used the Watson's kit. I'm using the tail lights with three bulbs. Top is for blinkers (yellow lens), middle is brake/tail light (red lens), bottom is back-up (clear lens). Please help.

Do the front parking lights work the rear tail lights share the same power source.

[nukeworker]

Good point. Yes they do and I thought they gave you a choice of whether or not you wanted the front blinkers to be on or off with the headlights. I thought I picked on, but they too are off with the headlights on.

[Speedy Jim]

You don't say what year car, but only headlight switches with
a Term #57 have optional park lights.

Term #58 should be live in either 1st or 2nd switch position.
Check with a tester.
#58 should go to fuses for Park and for Tail lights.

[nukeworker]

It's a 66 but I totally replaced the wiring system with the Watson's Streetworks kit. I used their headlight switch. There is an option on the switch for either front parking lamps on or off when headlights are on. I chose on.

[Speedy Jim]

OK. Then use the tester to track down where voltage is being lost
on the way to the tail lights. Are there separate fuses for the
tail lights? If so, start there.

[nukeworker]

Figured it out! Thanks guys.

[MNAirHead]

What was the issue..

If you don't mind, will cross link this to the watson's thread.

[nukeworker]

I'm a little embarassed I missed it but I had all the wires run (I thought) but the tail lights just wouldn't come on. I went through all the wiring diagrams to see if I missed something and couldn't find it. Then while rereading the instructions for the Watson's headlight switch the last sentence sez to run a fusable link (min 10 amps) from this one terminal to power. I must have missed it or forgot about it. Ran to the parts store. Put one in with a 15 amp fuse and Bingo! I got lights.

[CopperBaja]

Since you're now finished....all together, how long did it take you?

[nukeworker]

It took months. Actual time was probably 20-25 hours. I have a shot gun kind of way of working on my car. Instead of doing one thing till it's done, I kinda work on everything at once. So far it's worked out OK.

[CopperBaja]

It took months. Actual time was probably 20-25 hours. I have a shot gun kind of way of working on my car. Instead of doing one thing till it's done, I kinda work on everything at once. So far it's worked out OK.

That is PRECISELY my build....started as a rewire....pulled the wires, then thought....well, I should put the body lift on while the wires are out of the way....then when I was done with that, I thought....I should clean up the pans a bit.....etc, etc.

[MNAirHead]

Kind of like... "Hun.. as long as you're hanging a mirror in the bathroom, let's remodel the kitchen"