Taillights keep blowing out...

[Blackcrow64]

Well, my taillights on the passenger side keeps blowing out for no apparent reason. The fuses are all the proper sizes and fine. All the harnesses are connected and everything appears to be fine there also. Before, the taillights would work while the lights were on, but then when I would press the brakes the light would go out and then come back on when I let off. I posted a thread about it and got 1 reply. Now, they don't work at all. I'll replace the blown bulb, but in about a week it will be no good anymore. I thought the problem was a short in the electrical system and thats what it sounded like it was, but that doesn't seem to be the case or else they wouldn't work at all.

Any suggestions at all? I need to get this fixed ASAP the cops in my town aren't gonna be nice for much longer...

[sganc4life_4]

Sounds like you got a short to ground somewhere

[Blackcrow64]

Hmmm ok, so does anyone know where the ground for the taillights is? Because, I was under the assumption that the lights and accessories were grounded through the batterys ground. Or am I wrong?

[blk_srt]

the battery is grounded to the block, so basically anything only has to be grounded through the chasis to be affective. I agree with sganc4life_4 it sounds like you have a short. time to bust out the test light and figure out where it is

[Blackcrow64]

Originally Posted by pr_ricer

the battery is grounded to the block, so basically anything only has to be grounded through the chasis to be affective. I agree with sganc4life_4 it sounds like you have a short. time to bust out the test light and figure out where it is

To the block?? Don't you mean its grounded to the frame?

[sganc4life_4]

Just because its grounded to a frame doesnt mean it cant have a short to ground somewhere within the entire wire harness. Headlights are wired in parallel, if theres a short to ground, the resistance of the circuit goes down and current goes up. Your bulbs are blowing because of too much current.

Either take it to a mechanic telling him the problem, or go buy a volt meter and a wiring diagram and learn how to read and test.

[xavier3jr]

have u took ur tailights out recently?

[Blackcrow64]

Originally Posted by xavier3jr

have u took ur tailights out recently?

The last time they were removed was last winter when I repainted the car. But, they worked fine up until about 3 months ago when they started collecting water. They didn't start blowing out until about a month ago though.

[xavier3jr]

oh because when i put my clear taillights in i pinched a wire when i put them in and my bulb would blow like everyother day when the wire would hit the metal it would ground out so i would take it out and make sure theres no skint wire or anything that would be the easy soulution if that was it...

[Blackcrow64]

Hmmm, it could be possible. I'll check it tomorrow after work and see if I can find any bare wires.

[sganc4life_4]

What you can do is if you have a volt meter and a wiring diagram for your car or access to one, test for resistance between the clostest connector between the headlights and the connecter closest to the headlights. Check the book for how many ohms you should have. Do a voltage drop test and it should be around 0 volts before the headlights. If not then you found your short to ground. Good luck

[Blackcrow64]

Originally Posted by sganc4life_4

What you can do is if you have a volt meter and a wiring diagram for your car or access to one, test for resistance between the clostest connector between the headlights and the connecter closest to the headlights. Check the book for how many ohms you should have. Do a voltage drop test and it should be around 0 volts before the headlights. If not then you found your short to ground. Good luck

Ok... BTW its the taillights, but yeah I'll try that out. I have a voltmeter and a wiring diagram. I just have no idea how to read the diagram... I searched online to find a site to learn how to read them somewhat and everything I found had these dinky ass pictures that I couldn't even read and when I would find one that was readable I had no idea where to start with it.

But anyways, I'll give it a shot at reading the one I have and see what I come up with...

[sganc4life_4]

Sorry im actually pretty drunk right now, if you wanna scan or take a pic of the diagram Ill explain it the best I can lol