Taillights sometimes work, then they both go out, and come back

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richardtrifan

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Hello, does anyone know what is the most likely intermittent connection in this taillights circuit? Is it 1) oxidation of the fuse block (spring connectors at each fuse end), or something within the headlight switch? - It is always BOTH taillights (the dim filament of the double-bulb). Brake lights always work, turn signals always work, headlights always work - the problem is only the taillights. Thank you for any ideas! Rich

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Have somebody watch them, then start wiggling stuff like the headlight switch & wiring.

As I recall there is a connector in the trunk that sits right under where the rear window would leak on a fastback. My rear window was leaking on it and it was all corroded.
 
It's a simple circuit. Check ground. I don't know how that is done in a fish for sure. Get in there and look. If they have a common ground wire in the harness, maybe it is loose.

Otherwise, You have to get busy. The path is from the tail / park fuse, but that fuse also supplies the dash lights. Do they go out? If not, the light switch itself is likely OK. Might be the light switch harness connector, or the left kick panel connector. The passenger cars can get the harness pinched back where it enters the trunk near the back seat. Don't know about a Barracuda.
 
That the other light circuits work says that MOST likely the common grounds are good.

My bet is the light switch, the light switch connector, or he connector in the kick panel or other connector along the way.

This is for Dart, Barracuda cuda might be different. Just checked, same basic path for the tail lights on Barracuda

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I was wrong the tail do go through a fuse, but so do the stop lights. So if the stop work the fuse is ok and wiring to the headlight switch is ok too.

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At least in dart they are powered from the headlight switch which has a breaker in it.
 
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Mike69cuda said:
Have somebody watch them, then start wiggling stuff like the headlight switch & wiring.

As I recall there is a connector in the trunk that sits right under where the rear window would leak on a fastback. My rear window was leaking on it and it was all corroded.
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Thank you very much guys! I will try both this weekend!
 
the connector from the dash to the rear of the car is in the kick panel by your driver's left foot. You could put a multi meter there to watch for power as well. This would allow you to start isolating the root of your problem.
 
OttawaCharger said:
the connector from the dash to the rear of the car is in the kick panel by your driver's left foot. You could put a multi meter there to watch for power as well. This would allow you to start isolating the root of your problem.
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I will do that also! Thank you again, Richard
 
also, I just spent $180 to find out why my headlights were browning out. behind the brake master the connection to the clyinder came loose an dropped off, telling me my handbrakes was on
 
All the lights except for back up and headlights come together/ split off from the turn signal switch. Id start there if you're SURE the grounds are good
 
Thew said:
also, I just spent $180 to find out why my headlights were browning out. behind the brake master the connection to the clyinder came loose an dropped off, telling me my handbrakes was on
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I wish that made sense, Wrong post?
 
volaredon said:
All the lights except for back up and headlights come together/ split off from the turn signal switch. Id start there if you're SURE the grounds are good
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The park/ tail/ cluster illumination has nothing to do with the TS switch or the TS switch harness connector

Only thing near the TS switch are the brake/ TS lights. Of course they share the same harness down and past the left kick panel connector and on to the rear of the vehicle
 
The TS switch is where the TS/ brake function are split from each other, being they use the same filament on the 1157 bulbs...
 
volaredon said:
The TS switch is where the TS/ brake function are split from each other, being they use the same filament on the 1157 bulbs
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Yes, but the OP stated his brake, turn, and flashers work as expected. Only the parking/ tail lights are an issue. That the brake, turn, and flashers work says the ground at the bulbs is good.

The park/ tail lights comes directly from the headlight switch, with power to the switch coming from the tail stop fuse so that shows the fuse and power into the headlight switch MAY not be the problem,
 
volaredon said:
The TS switch is where the TS/ brake function are split from each other, being they use the same filament on the 1157 bulbs...
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Just for clarity, THIS statement is correct, but that is not what you said in post 10.

But OP said in first post that it is the TAIL that is giving him problems.
 
would think if swicth was bad it would effect front too
ground would effect stop light too
wiring to the rear is where i would look ...one little hole in the wire anywhere can corrode
oh fuse block....good find
 
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