Weird brake light issue

I'm hoping this is a dumb issue that I'm just missing the simple solution for. My right rear tail light bulb does not turn on when the lights are turned on. The lower brake portion. The brake light itself lights up when the pedal is depressed, just not the running light. I've tried multiple bulbs and multiple sets of tail lights, all with the same result. Is there a fuse for that??

My drivers side rear works just fine, zero issue.

 

Sounds like it might be a discontinuity or short in the wire. If you have a multimeter, you could hook that up to the wire for the brake light and see if it's getting power when the lights are on.

 

Try cleaning the socket they do corrode . I use a Fitting brush in a drill with CRC 556

A broken wire is possible.

if you have one of those 4pin trailer plugs those evil converter boxes cause all manor of light issues.

 

I know this is a strange question, but does the right license plate light work?

The power for the Right tail light goes “through” the Left tail light. Knowing if the license plate light is working will give us a good place to start.

Both lights use the same ground on the Right tail light. So it’s likely NOT a ground issues. Other wise both lights would be out.

 

are you saying that the taillights share ground wire with opposite license plate lights? And if my left running light and my right license plate light are not working, then there’s an issue with the ground to these two light sources??

 

hi TN Shooter can you kindly read my post /inquiry above?

 

Using 1157 bulbs?

Your right taillight does not work?? Correct ? is your right license plate light working?

Both rear brake lights are working?

Have you tried cleaning your sockets ?

I am guessing you don`t have a multi meter ? So easy to test things .

 

The LEFT tail light supplies power to the RIGHT tail light.
The RIGHT tail light supplies Ground to BOTH Tail lights.

And easy test would be to see if the LEFT license plate bulb works?
If it does, the ground to the RIGHT light is good. And The ground point from the right light is good.
If the right tail light works, then the power FROM the Left tail light is good.

So, what does this mean?
You need to check the bulb and the socket (connector pins would be better)

Or swap the bulbs that do work on the others, to the side that doesn't work. And see if its a bulb issue.
But that's not the "right" way to diagnose the issue. A test light is the best/right way.

Or uses a voltage meter to check for power on the GREEN wire of the bulb connector, and the ground on the White/Black wire.

Red is Power
Blue is Ground

 

Craymos

all bulbs are same?
I mean all are conventional?
Or are some LED?

I had some Super Strange (consistent) issues bc I mixed bulbs
Screw that noise…..all my tails are conventional bulbs now

 

Yes, 1157 years And it’s a very old bulb come to think of it. (+/- 8 yrs) I believe it may have been the same issue.

right taillights all work perfect.
Right license plate light - No

left running light - No
Brake light - yes (same bulb as running light)
Left blinker and reverse - work fine

I’ve taken apart the fixture a couple times, 1st time it rained mission aborted, 2nd time I tried using the multi meter but honestly electrical is not my strong suit.
Saturday mission continues

thanks for the support

 

Thanks for the quick response and all this info. I will study tackle this on Saturday.

 

Then Power and Ground checks at the bulb connector it is.
Remember, GREEN is POWER
White/Black is GROUND.

If the connector is getting power and ground, then it's the socket or the bulb.

 

perhaps I’ll stop contemplating the LED bulbs.

thank you

 

Thank you so much! I’ll follow up this weekend. You are most kind.

 

If it didn't come with LEDs, I don't recommend putting them in.
Mostly because you can put them in backwards. And when you do, they don't work
And when they don't work, you get to put them in again. Or you don't know what to do, and then have to "figure it the hard way".

I'm "old", I like to leave things well enough alone.

 

Amen Brother ^^^

 

Even bulbs can have unseen corrosion never hurts to clean them.

Time to practice with your meter . Maybe look at simple DC circuits to see how things work.

Wires broken under the insulation are all to common in our older trucks.

Good Luck!