Rear Driver Side Park Light Out ? Help !

[97turbo]

97 2500 CTD- I've got a rear parking light out on the driver side, turn signal and brake light are fine, All other park lights come on as normal. I know my headlight switch is worn some because if I pull the switch out to turn on the headlights some times I have to jiggle it to get the headlights to come on. Could a worn out headlight switch cause that one park light not to come on ?

Edited March 6, 2014 by 97turbo

[BobCat]

It sounds more like a filament to be, but I'm no expert.

 

I did have to replace the headlight switch on my 95 when smoke started coming out of it - apparently if you use the dash light dimmer much, it overheats the switch and cooks insulation.

 

So I don't know if a worn switch could affect the parking light - but it is easy enough to get to the bulbs and eyeball the filament.

 

Best of luck with it.

[97turbo]

Already tried new bulbs.... That didn't fix the issue. I also swapped the bulb from the passanger side which works fine, no luck either way.

[joecool911]

Bad bulb socket? Maybe verify you're getting power to the socket and then try a new assembly. Not very expensive.

[97turbo]

Bad bulb socket? Maybe verify you're getting power to the socket and then try a new assembly. Not very expensive.

I thought of that, but if that's the case would the turn and brake lights still work on that side and only the parking light not function ?

[MnTom]

I thought of that, but if that's the case would the turn and brake lights still work on that side and only the parking light not function ?

Yep. Time to start looking at wiring. Do you have a trailer plug on your truck?

[97turbo]

Replaced the trailer plug today ... Didn't solve the problem.

[MnTom]

Replaced the trailer plug today ... Didn't solve the problem.

Is it a plug-in plug? I mean does it plug in to the harness or is it a cut in? If it is a plug in then check the plugs and if it is cut in then check where the wiring was tied into.

[97turbo]

Checked all the plugs, they look good.

[joecool911]

Any corrosion in your bulb socket? There are two contacts in there. Maybe one is not getting juice to the one side of the bulb? I'd test the contacts with a test light and poke around with it and see if you can get contact with parking lights on.

Edited March 6, 2014 by joecool911

[MnTom]

But did you check for voltage? It is possible to have a broken wire and the insulation looks good. You are going to have to start back tracking the wiring checking for power every so often until you find the problem.

[97turbo]

^^^ will chech the socket better tomorrow , then I guess start tracing wires...

[dripley]

The brake and the turn signal come from one source and the tail light comes from the head light switch. Still could be anything in between though, socket, harness, you are still going to have to so some digging.

[97turbo]

The brake and the turn signal come from one source and the tail light comes from the head light switch. Still could be anything in between though, socket, harness, you are still going to have to so some digging.

So it could be the headlight switch itself ?

[dripley]

I am not looking at the wiring diagram, but the tail lights come on when the head lights come on. The brake lights come on with the brake light switch and the turn signal comes on with the turn signal switch. I would think that would point to the head light switch. I also dont know what that switch costs just to throw at the problem.

[97turbo]

Headlight switch is anywhere from 60 to 80 bucks where I live. I know it needs replaced cause when I turn the headlights on they don't always come on unless I jiggle the switch some. I just hope it's plug-and-play and I don't have to splice a bunch of wires.

[MnTom]

No, it is not the headlight switch. The tail lights have one wire running to the back of the truck and then split near the back of the truck. You know you are getting power to the rear of the truck because the left tail light works. So then the problem is between the harness that comes from the front and splits to the right tail light. The split should be right near the left frame rail in the back of the truck.

[dripley]

No, it is not the headlight switch. The tail lights have one wire running to the back of the truck and then split near the back of the truck. You know you are getting power to the rear of the truck because the left tail light works. So then the problem is between the harness that comes from the front and splits to the right tail light. The split should be right near the left frame rail in the back of the truck.

 

A very good reason for checking the wiring diagram. Thanks Tom

[97turbo]

Found a bad wire in the back of the truck , spliced in a new one. Issue fixed.

[MnTom]

Good going! Glad to hear you fixed it!