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Driver Tail light

3K views 6 replies 5 participants last post by  mon_21 
#1 ·
Hey guys, I have a situation that has been on my jeep for quite some time. basically, my driver brake light is weird. heres how it goes. So, When i turn on the parking lights, the tail light doesnt light up, but when i press the brake it does light up. I've tried changing the socket, and the light. neither of them work. i think its the wiring harness, but if anyone else has any other sort of input that would be extremely helpful, especially if anyone knows how to fix it.
 
#2 ·
The tail light park/brake lamp has 2 filaments. Do you mean that the park light filament lights up when you brake? (so you have 2 different light outputs for left and right brake light)? The brake and tail lamp use the same wire for ground, so that one is ok. There is a relay in the aft park lights circuit, but if the right park light is ok, then the relay works fine. Did you already measure if 12 V is available on the black/yellow wire of the tail light socket (point 3 of the connector) when the park lights are switched on?
Many times the park/brake lamps give problems due to bad contact in the socket. Bending the small tabs normally does the trick, but since you already changed the socket that should be ok then.
 
#3 ·
Yeah, i bent back the small tabs in the socket. but it doesnt solve the problem. and for the different light output question. if this answers it, when i put the toggle up to parking lights, the driver side does light up. but the passenger side does. but when i press the brake, all lights light up, including the 3rd brake light. and no i havent checked that black/yellow wire. what should i do in that case.
 
#4 ·
open your hatch, remove the tail light, grab a test light, ground it to the striker for the rear gate latch, and check each pin in the tail light wiring harness in the Jeep, and see what you get. if the test light works as the tail light should, then you probably have a bad circuit board in the tail light. Thus being time for some aftermarkets, unless you really like the stockers. but cheapest i found them were $70 a side, or $160 for two brand new LED ones with no circuit board.
 
#6 ·
That was my thought as well, Gus. but i figured using a test light would be a great way to make certain it isnt the tail light. It sounds a lot like how my lights were acting.
 
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