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No tailights

T

Tylor

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Ok so I have a 73 charger that had tailights 2 weeks ago and now it doesn't. I have headlights, turns, and breaklights. My hazzards worked up until last night then they quit.....unless I use the turn signal with the hazzard switch on
 
Tylor said:
Ok so I have a 73 charger that had tailights 2 weeks ago and now it doesn't. I have headlights, turns, and breaklights. My hazzards worked up until last night then they quit.....unless I use the turn signal with the hazzard switch on
Click to expand...
Sounds like two separate problems. On the tail lights do you have working front park lights and side markers? If not test all the fuses with a meter or test light. Do not say they all looked good. If the front park lights and side markers are working you could have a bad wire, bad bulbs, bad grounds.
 
Ok so right now I just have the headlights when I turn on the headlights. No my dash lights went out here recently also. I looked at all the fuses (I replaced all of them last week) and number 3 was bad
 
So you must have a short. Did you test the fuses as instructed?
 
Just tested the fuses and all have power except number 5
 
Ok now I have no brake lights lol maybe a wire in the column?
 
Don't rule out your signal switch. I had issues chasing some of the same problems last summer. After many hours of testing things, changing parts it ended up being the switch. I had a spare column and when I plugged that in everything worked.
So I put in switch from the spare, problem fixed.
 
71dodgechargerrt said:
Don't rule out your signal switch. I had issues chasing some of the same problems last summer. After many hours of testing things, changing parts it ended up being the switch. I had a spare column and when I plugged that in everything worked.
So I put in switch from the spare, problem fixed.
Click to expand...
That may fix the brake light and emergency flashers but it wont fix the tail lights.
 
Biggest problem I have had has been with the common ground (bottom right just above the #23). Causes all sorts of unusual problems. Best of luck with your troubleshooting.

IMG_5422.jpg
 
Builderguy said:
Biggest problem I have had has been with the common ground (bottom right just above the #23). Causes all sorts of unusual problems. Best of luck with your troubleshooting.

View attachment 1213298
Click to expand...
Thats fine for the rear if that was where his problem was. He has no front park or side marker lights so He needs to get a manual and follow the circuit.
 
There’s a ground wire to the body in the trunk just before the harness enters the tail panel, also a connector above the license plate for the right side. Under the left kick panel up front is another connector that runs from the dash for light and fuel gauge as well. IIrc there’s also another chassis ground on the right side in the trunk where the harness runs to the rear side marker light. Good clean grounds are a must for things to work consistently.
 
Ima clean the ground in the trunk first because thats where alot of dirt is at. I tried another turn signal switch out of another charger I have and it does the same thing. I took steering wheel off this morning to see if any wires were touching and it was fine. I think it maybe a short between the tail lights to kicker panel. Good thing most the carpet and back seat is out. Thank for the info guys
 
That looks like a good place to start and see what caused that connector to get hot. Do you have a good digital multimeter?
 
I had a no dash lights issue I fought with terribly. It was the cigarette lighter. I kept blowing the dash lights fuse so I disconnected the lighter. They worked for a bit then BAM no worky again. Turned out the unplugged lighter was rubbing on the back of the metal ashtray. Almost drove me crazy. Not sure why they would run the circuit through the lighter but they did.
 
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