No tail lights or running lights

[HeresJohnny]

Howdy yeall,
I have the no tail lights disease. I’ve put a lot of time into it and before I just run new wiring I thought I’d see if any might share some illuminating revelation.

To keep it short, everything is cool and working as it should all the way back to main harness connection in the rear of the vehicle. New bulbs too. I have power at two terms at the front of the connector with the lights on. I’m pretty sure I need to run new wire from that point to the lights themselves. What say you?

[Ivylog]

How are you testing the voltage??? A digital meter can lead you astray...not enough amps to light the bulb. I like a old style test light without a led bulb.

[jeepfreak]

Check your ground to the taillights. Try running a temporary ground wire with a known good connection . That’s the only thing that is common between the lights.

[Ljwt330]

Good advice from both posts, above. Poor ground would also be my suspicion.

[steve52]

Ground wire most likely. And yes, use a lamp instead of a multimeter to chase issues like this.

[HeresJohnny]

I will check with test lamp. Yes ground was first thing I checked but will check that again too

[twinboat]

Put the test light lead to the hot wire at the connector and touch the probe to the tail light ground in the socket.

If it lights, good ground. If it don't no ground.

[HeresJohnny]

I followed the good recommendations in the replies, and ultimately I had to rewire a hot lead from the connector directly to the lights. I must conclude that the lead in the harness is disrupted somewhere and with Dorian looming in the Atlantic I chose the faster solution rather than trying to find out where the break is in the harness. I have lights now!