Tail Lights

[andrewh06]

i have a 81 c 10. that i need to get in inspected in the next 3 days. only problem being. every time i got to get the truck inspected my driver side tail light doesn't work.

heres the deal. everything will work fine until the passenger side turn signal is turned on. but once the passenger side turn signal is turned on my driver side brake light stops working....i "rebuilt" the tail light harness a couple of years ago in VoTech and still had the problem.

so...personally i don't think that it is a wiring issue..could this be a switch? or what do you guys think?

thanks for any help and all responses in advance....

Andrew

[werewolfx13]

Does the bulb blow when this happens or what? Depending on the state you live in, you may not be required to have two funtional brake lights, only one..and you can use hand signals in leux of lighted turn signals. I've done that in the past..Missouri doesn't require two brake lights, and only requires turn signals if you don't intend to use hand signals. My mother's s-10 blazer had a right brake/turn bulb out, and I got it passed by using hand signals, then went home and replaced the bulb.

[andrewh06]

well what the heck, I'm from Kansas City. and I've been denied twice. once by Firestone and then by some independent shop over here by my house.

and no the bulb does not blow out. it just simply does not light up...

[Captkaos]

Is power getting to the bulb?  Initially I would say you have a short somewhere.  No bulb blow and no fuse blown?

[andrewh06]

no, it only does it when i use my passenger side turn signal. but other then that the bulb lights up and works fine. i just dont understand why when i use my passenger side turn signal my driver brake light goes out...

i guess i probably need to do some more testing in the mourning i haven't had a chance to test anything with a meter or a test light at the current time...

[Restrorob]

Both brake lights work off the same switch, Run a jumper wire from the right brake light to the left brake light and see if it still goes out. If it doesn't you have a wiring issue for the left side.

You could also get it passed this way and work on it later.

[jonkmbll89]

You might want to check your turn signal switch in your steering column.

[VileZambonie]

Check the ground circuit on the bed behind the tail lights.