Trunk Ground Location 1971 DART?

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frumharlem

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Good afternoon,

I am trying to identify where the ground location is for the trunk, for my rear lights etc. I followed the wiring diagram, but it simply shows a ground for the rear defrost motor. I don't believe I have rear defrost and if I do, it does not work, as none of my HVAC works.

Can anyone send me a photo of t
Ground In Trunk.JPG
heir trunk, showing the default ground wire connection?
 
If you follow your wire harness to the tail lights usually it’s a wire, sometimes 2 or 3 with an eyelet bolted to the inside panel that your tail light harness passes through. Usually not hidden.
Just take a look
 
Thanks, is that what the upside down xmas tree symbol means? I knew that it would ground via socket to body, I am having issues where they stay one or in cases don't come on. So, I wanted to add additional ground wires. I was unsure if I could just pigtail to body from the metal light housing or simply find a wire to tap a new thicker ground to.
 
everything back there is chassis grounded. Stay on or don't come on sounds more like a bad switch.
 
Mr. Sinister said:
If you follow your wire harness to the tail lights usually it’s a wire, sometimes 2 or 3 with an eyelet bolted to the inside panel that your tail light harness passes through. Usually not hidden.
Just take a look
Click to expand...
I looked and followed the loom from the hump on the driver's side behind the rear seat, along the side marker and around to the Passenger side marker. There is only one black wire at the Passenger side marker, and appears to be the end of the line. That black wire is power, like the wiring diagram says. I then go back to the tail lamp and the other wires are there. But there is no pigtail or other wire that attaches to the trunk pan or bumper support.
 
Your upside down christmas tree is the electrical symbol for ground. It does not indicate another wire, just a ground is accomplished by bolting it on. Now you know.
 
I know that there is a ground wire in the trunk, I think it’s bolted to the latch mount structure.
 
The circuit you highlighted is the rear defogger motor. It's ground just gets screwed to the package shelf somewhere. Usually Mopar has a stamped dimple in the metal where the ground screw goes. It should be near the motor.
 
I've seen lots of '71 Darts (and other years too) that had corroded taillight bulb sockets where lights wouldn't work properly.
 
Pics of ground wire in the trunk of my 72’ Dart grey with black tracer factory. Purple wire is an add on not factory
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The search here is for grounding of the taillights, even though the ground for the defroster is highlighted.
 
Murray said:
The search here is for grounding of the taillights, even though the ground for the defroster is highlighted.
Click to expand...
Exactly. Confusing to a novice. The sockets ground to the light housing and the housing is grounded to the chassis through (basically) the mounting screws. Like you mentioned before, a single wire lights the bulb and the ground path (Christmas tree symbol) is through the socket. Rust and corrosion can cause issues and a test light can test the circuits. You know that but the OP may not.
 
Partial apology- just looked at my '68 cuda and no ground as pictured! There's obviously a difference between the Dart and the cuda. I'm bad.
 
Murray said:
Partial apology- just looked at my '68 cuda and no ground as pictured! There's obviously a difference between the Dart and the cuda. I'm bad.
Click to expand...
You're good. They are all a little different. I was going to stop over and snap a picture of my 70 Dart but they have different lights than a 71. :BangHead::BangHead:
 
...........And don't forget these girls changed through the years. I just yanked A/C out of a junk and I mean JUNK 69 Dart HT which is hopefully gonna be the donor to fix the roof on the 74 Scamp. There is a brown ground wire associated with the heater grounded to the bracket retaining the heater hose nipples RIGHT UP AGAINST the inside firewall. No hope!!!! Of getting to THAT with the heater/ AC in place!!!!
 
This is a 72’ taillight look at where screw driver is pointed-ground post and hot wire on positive post. This is how it works. 70’- 71’ work the same I recently sold a set of 70’ taillights and this is how I proved them to the buyer.
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But wait! There’s more!
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74’ Dart Sport with same ground location. Original harness lug was damaged and replaced.
 
Murray said:
Partial apology- just looked at my '68 cuda and no ground as pictured! There's obviously a difference between the Dart and the cuda. I'm bad.
Click to expand...
Those models with plastic light fixtures, side markers, whatever, require a ground wire.
 
I'm not sure if the original poster ever figured this out? If the taillights come on and just the brake lights flicker its most likely a problem with the brake switch at the brake pedal. They both use the same socket ground so that eliminates a grounding problem.
If neither are coming on or are flickering its a grounding issue or a power to the rear issue. I would think if it was a grounding issue it would only affect one bulb at a time. Or you'd lose half of the lights. If they are all coming on/off together I would check the 12V coming in at the harness to the rear.
Good luck
 
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