Tail light short. Anything simple I’m missing?
 

I was told today my left rear tail light is inop.
I started at the bulb and no power. I checked and found the fuse blown. Changed that and it blew again.

I disconnected the rear six pin in the engine area to remove the short harness and tail light housing from the system and I have the same issue.

I removed the wires at the fuse panel and isolated that the Grey/Black wire seems to be shorted from the fuse panel back.
I inspected and wiggled the harness everywhere except the auto heat area. I need pull the auto heat and check in there. I even found a thread about the center console mount screw being too long and run into the harness. I don’t have that issue.

So far the harness does not feel brittle or stiff anywhere. And there is no damage to the cover.
I’m going to go through the harness with a continuity tone test and then ohm test to see if I can isolate the area.

But maybe someone has had the same issue with an area to check?


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Check the short grey wire with a single flat connector coming out of the male 6 pin you disconnected. It may have the engine bay light plugged into it. The lamp housings are notorious for grounding out. Disconnect and test.

So the engine bay light is powered off of the left rear tail light power wire?
That means the engine bay light would only work with the running lights on. I'm not surprised. It took me a while to figure out the headlights have to be on for the headlight washers to work. :D
This make sense, because I recently replaced the missing engine bay light assembly and it doesn't work. But it looks factory. :rolleyes:
If that's the issues I'm going to be happy and pissed at the same time. I have about three hours of work to reassemble everything...


P.S. The custom engine harness with the gauges and MSD connections you made me fits and looks perfect!!

You know the part in A Christmas Story where Ralphie is cussing like a sailor.
That’s about how I just sounded. You were right. Engine compartment light.
I ripped half the car apart for that...

Thanks Dennis!!


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Lol, I'm glad you found it.SmileWavy