tail light problem

[ninesixxjr]

I just got finished up doing a whole bunch of work on my car engine wise and when i went to check all the lights, the right one had some problems. the right taillight only works when the parking lights or headlights are on. no break lights or turn signals. the left one works perfectly as it should. what would this be?

 

[sabre67]

Bulb burnt out its a double filliment bulb try a new #1157

 

[sabre67]

or bad ground at right side socket

 

[ninesixxjr]

Bulb burnt out its a double filliment bulb try a new #1157

or bad ground at right side socket

i tried a new bulb and tried flipping it with the side that's working and nothing.

 

[sabre67]

back to basics , check for power and ground at that socket

 

[Murray]

If no power try this. Brake and TS go through the TS switch, the t/lites do not. Wiggle the T/S switch to see if they come back.

 

[Dana67Dart]

I just got finished up doing a whole bunch of work on my car engine wise

What work was done?

 

[TrailBeast]

i tried a new bulb and tried flipping it with the side that's working and nothing.

This sounds exactly like a bad ground at the socket.
Try turning the light on and use a piece of wire to touch from your bumper to the light socket itself.
Bet it comes on.

The socket itself sometimes looses its connection to the housing pot metal believe it or not.

 

[Dana67Dart]

I had removed a left front turn signal light socket.

I went for a drive and noticed the turn signals were not working.

Could you have bumped the bulkhead connector while working on the engine?

Also the connector for the rear lights is located behind the drivers side kick panel

 

[67Dart273]

Clean the socket and pigtail terminals
Clean the bulb shell and terminals and test the lamp
Test the socket shell ground.

NEVER assume it can not be a weird bulb problem, like a broken ground connection but good filaments. This puts the two filaments in series, and with the signals off, the tail lamp will glow somewhat dim, as it is trying to use the series connection, through the other side lamp to ground

Or a lamp with the two filaments internally welded, which can cause interesting back feed problems.

Never forget these girls are old. If you cannot get a good socket shell ground, don't be afraid to clamp or solder a ground pigtail to the shell, and "say," run it over to the trunk latch bolt, etc.

 

[ninesixxjr]

sorry for the late response but i finaly got out there and to my dumb surprise the bulb was not set all the way in the socket correctly. not sure how the running lights were working but nevertheless its working now! the car is officially ready for hot august nights in reno nevada! lets hope the old girl makes it up there.