All my rear lights are out

Kevin66427 · Veteran Member

All my rear lights are out

dualquadpete · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I'd start at the 'bulkhead" connection on fire wall!!! Check there to see if you have power at the "big' plug both inside dash & on engine side. if you do then start following the rear harness, !!!

Johnnee D · Guru

It happened to me, I had to clean the connectors at the bulkhead, it worked, and unplug the battery, i kept hitting the horn circuit, almost died of a heart attack

Greaser · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Weak tail light contact in the light switch?

marshalldude · Guru

same happened to my Beaumont after new carpet installed strap going to rear unplugged under rear seat all tail-lights out

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Not sure which of your cars you're referring to, but I presume your 66. If it's similar to my 70, near the fuse block, there should be a flat connector for the body harness. The body harness is contained within a flat plastic sheath and travels under the seats and into the trunk area for the tail lights. My car then has a connector at the left rear corner of the trunk that feads the tail light harness. I suspect something has become disconnected between the fuse block and the tail lights, and the first place I'd look is at the body harness connector by the fuse block. If good there, then check any intermediate connections. This shoudl be fairly easy to diagnose, as you indicate nothing is working. That's easier to diagnose than if it's intermittent, etc.

Leo2+2 · Guru

seventy2plus2 wrote:
Not sure which of your cars you're referring to, but I presume your 66. If it's similar to my 70, near the fuse block, there should be a flat connector for the body harness. The body harness is contained within a flat plastic sheath and travels under the seats and into the trunk area for the tail lights. My car then has a connector at the left rear corner of the trunk that feads the tail light harness. I suspect something has become disconnected between the fuse block and the tail lights, and the first place I'd look is at the body harness connector by the fuse block. If good there, then check any intermediate connections. This shoudl be fairly easy to diagnose, as you indicate nothing is working. That's easier to diagnose than if it's intermittent, etc.

I agree especially if it happened to your 66. In my 67 I changed the carpet and the connector near the fuse box was disconnected. Check it out carefully as it may appear to be connected but unless it's really plugged in hard there may be no electricity flow. Perhaps unplug it and plug it back in firmly. Also check the trunk wiring.

Finally if all seems OK and still no lights, remove the rear seat by lifting the seatback about 1 inch, then pulling forward top first. Then remove the actual seat. This will reveal the wires as they come out of the carpet. Check that they are healthy, that they haven't been connected in a home-made way by electrician's tape in earlier years [sometimes you can find surprises]

Good luck.

Kevin66427 · Veteran Member

It was for the 66 GP. Thank you everyone for the help. Going to try and diagnose this weekend. Need the car to run safely.

beaucarlo · Guru

Leo2+2 wrote:
seventy2plus2 wrote:
Not sure which of your cars you're referring to, but I presume your 66. If it's similar to my 70, near the fuse block, there should be a flat connector for the body harness. The body harness is contained within a flat plastic sheath and travels under the seats and into the trunk area for the tail lights. My car then has a connector at the left rear corner of the trunk that feads the tail light harness. I suspect something has become disconnected between the fuse block and the tail lights, and the first place I'd look is at the body harness connector by the fuse block. If good there, then check any intermediate connections. This shoudl be fairly easy to diagnose, as you indicate nothing is working. That's easier to diagnose than if it's intermittent, etc.
I agree especially if it happened to your 66. In my 67 I changed the carpet and the connector near the fuse box was disconnected. Check it out carefully as it may appear to be connected but unless it's really plugged in hard there may be no electricity flow. Perhaps unplug it and plug it back in firmly. Also check the trunk wiring.
Finally if all seems OK and still no lights, remove the rear seat by lifting the seatback about 1 inch, then pulling forward top first. Then remove the actual seat. This will reveal the wires as they come out of the carpet. Check that they are healthy, that they haven't been connected in a home-made way by electrician's tape in earlier years [sometimes you can find surprises]
Good luck.
definite open circuit....I agree with the black tape theory....its the first thing I would look for....use a test-light & check where the power stops....those blue wire splicers sometimes corrode & lose continuity

66 Grande guy · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Better get rid of it! I know a guy who might be interested...

Kevin66427 · Veteran Member

Hmmmm....wonder who that might be? Lol

racer6929 · Addicted!

Electrical tape ? My beater's a '94 Jimmy my wife bought second hand from a GM dealer,
we had all sorts of wiring issues including the remote start installed by the orriginal owner at home fry the starter by trying to start all by itself.
After many episodes of weird stuff happening I took it to a specialty shop.
Bare wires hanging down, shorting and the corker was the guy ran out of electrical tape, so..drum roll..
he used masking tape.
Funny the whole thing didn't burn to the ground.

66 Grande guy · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Over the years i've learned that I'd much rather buy a car that has bad original wiring than one where the guy who had it before me tried to "fix" it. At least you know where you stand when the car hasn't been "improved".

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

I am betting the flat strap running from the fuse box to the back is unhooked either front by the fuse box or at the back under the back seat. A test light would be a good way to start, checking at each of those connection points maybe?

I think you have my number Kevin, give me a call if you need help. I have the rug out of my black 66 right now so I can take pictures etc to show you where to look.

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Now for a question from left field, what "bulkhead" connector are people referring to earlier in this string? If it's the firewall bulkhead connector, they're going the wrong way. Things appear fine at the dash, it's the rear lights that aren't working.

Kevin66427 · Veteran Member

Thanks Carl. I still have your number. Will attempt to work on it this weekend coming up. Wasn't able to do it this past weekend as the kids had 2 birthday parties to attend.