The tail lights on my 89 k1500 wont light up anymore. The fronts work just fine, and I still have brake lights, and turn signals. They wont light up when I turn my lights on. Wheres the best place to start looking for a fix? The fuses are good.

Thanks

Remove the offending tail lamp assembly, turn it upside-down, remove the back-up light socket and bulb, and pour the housing full of Crown Royal or Canadian Club. If it's like the rest of us, it should be "lit up" in about ten minutes.

But seriously, check the grounds near the rear body harness, the ground strap between the truck bed and frame, and connections at the sockets themselves. A voltmeter is going to be very useful in the diagnosis. Don't be afraid to connect a length of wire from a good engine or battery ground to the tail lamp socket(s) temporarily to help diagnose the problem.

Save the Crown Royal for lighting up the mechanic after a job well done.
If the system is the same as that on an 86 a dual filament bulb was used; could be as simple as one filament burned out. I'd check that first before digging too deep. Secondarily you'll want to check if you have trailer wiring, in my case the prior owner did a very poor job installing trailer wiring and it had shorted, when rewired correctly (with good materials and care) all worked fine.

Its not the bulbs, i got new bulbs when i replaced the buckets that they plug into.

Remove the offending tail lamp assembly, turn it upside-down, remove the back-up light socket and bulb, and pour the housing full of Crown Royal or Canadian Club. If it's like the rest of us, it should be "lit up" in about ten minutes.

"Blue Bowtie" Awesome response. No wonder you're "registered". I'm still wiping laugh tears!!!

Anyway, Redchevy: There's 2 contacts in each bucket. One's for turn and stop and one's for running lights. Get a volt meter and check for power on the contacts. If no power for the running lights then do as "idmetro" suggests and check the trailer wiring harness and plug in's. If you've got turn and brake lights the grounds are probably good as they go right from the bulb sockets.

Man, I'm still laughing. Good one "BLUE"............Steve

I going for a broke wire because if it was a ground problem it would be affecting the other lights especially the turn signals they act crazy when they ain't grounded good. So I like idmetro I would start with a test light or a volt meter at the socket and work my way back and be sure to look for any add ons or like he said check the point where a trailer might have been wired up. Work back until you find juice.

I will let you guys now how it goes when i have a change to do it on the weekend. Thanks guys for your help.

Check any plugs going back to the tail lights and clean with electrical cleaner or brake clean. Your hunting for corrosion.

I took a little look at it today and the wire job that the first owner did on the trailer harness is just a complete mess. None of the connections that he made are portected by tape or anything. Its just bare wire. Im sure the connections to the buckets are fine, but ill double check them and let you guys know how it went when I get more time to work on it.

Thanks

Just thought id let you guys know it was the trailer wire harness. The wires for the tailights, and the reverse lights were both completly disconnected. I took everything he did apart and re-wired/soldered everything w/shrink tubing on it, so it should hold up now. I cant beleave that the last owner thought a simple twist of the 2 wires and a little tape was going to hold it.

Anyways thats for your help.