No Running Lights

[JStraw]

Got pulled over the other day for not having any running lights. Found the fuse blown, replaced it at pressed on. Two days latter the lights were inop again. Unfortunately I was on the road away from the house. having just installed the led clearance lights on the roof, I summized it may be coming from one of them. And since I was off the road and not going anywhere until daylight, I started to remove the trim and my accessories to get to them. Thw wiring all looked good but I diconnected them to see if iot eliminated the problem. It still blew the fuses so I was forced to take a nap until sunrise



After I got to my destination and finished work I decided to pull and replace all bulbs. I started on the passanger side front and worked my way around to the right rear. Wouldn't you know it... thats where I found the tail/ turn and backup bulbs corroded apart. I had to use a screwdriver and needlenose pliers to remove them. The seals are good and the lens isn't cracked. I have never noticed any standing water but did see some condensation.



Anyone else have this problem?

 

[MFalkinham]

That's a weird coincidence. I got pulled over Friday night by a county deputy due to my passenger-side tail light and brake light both being out. Saturday morning I pulled the lens cover and discovered that bulb was black. Replaced rear bulbs on both sides with new long-life bulbs, so hopefully that takes care of it. So far it hasn't blown again. The driver's side lense does have a crack & condensation, but not the passenger side. I guess the bulb just died of old age, as there was no corrosion. I did have to replace one backup light socket last year due to corrosion, though. Try a little electrical grease inside the socket to prevent future problems.



I've also ordered LED marker lights for my dually flares to replace some of those corroded & dead OEM lights. Thankfully, the deputy was friendly and just gave me a warning to get it fixed. I think the tail lite stop was just an excuse to sniff inside the cab to see if I'd been drinking.



- Mike

 

[JasonHamilton]

I had a problem once with my running lights going out and coming back on as I was driving. With further review and diagnostics of the problem came to find that it was a wire in the trailer light assembly. Whoever did the light job on it put a plug spot in there with no resistor for the plug spot just a jump wire well the wire's guage wasn't big enough to handle the voltage and got extremely hot and kept shorting out. So we just put a bigger guage wire in there and now all is good.

 

[DKasper]

Most of my electrical connections in the lights were corroded very badly. When I replaced my tailgate and fender flare marker lights with LEDs, I had to splice in 3 sets of new connectors -- the old ones would just crumble when I trid to clean them.



I've had condensation in a couple of the cab marker lights as well -- they're still going, but I bet when I take them apart, they'll self destruct! I think over the years the plastic on the lenses just gets a little warped from expansion & contraction and eventually lets in some moisture. Just one of the joys of old hardware . . .





Dave