84 d-90 problem?

With the lights on, remove the red wire that comes out of the chassis rail from the 4-way connector and touch it to the end of the red wire to the new lamp assembly. The tail lamp should illuminate. If it does, the problem is in that lousy 4-way connector. Sometimes they break on the inside and it's hard to tell because of the rubber insulator
i will try that in the morning thanks! i will keep you posted


I had the same issue with mines.....clean it properly..remove those old screws..I had to drill mines out...i dont think there's any wire for ground....
only in a rover!
 

crusader

Adventurer
OK. Sounds like the other lights all light up, so I can say with a great deal of confidence that the problem is power not making it through that 4-way connector to the red wire on the lamp assembly.
 
OK. Sounds like the other lights all light up, so I can say with a great deal of confidence that the problem is power not making it through that 4-way connector to the red wire on the lamp assembly.
ok thank you. i will try that tomorrow! so i should pretty much make a jumper line going past that 4 way connector and go from the frame red wire to the red wire coming from the taillight?
 

crusader

Adventurer
...so i should pretty much make a jumper line going past that 4 way connector and go from the frame red wire to the red wire coming from the taillight?

Nah--With the lights on, just pull the red frame wire out of the 4-way connector and touch it to the one on the new light assembly. That 4-way connector is only a single piece of flat metal that's curled up on the ends to form a round socket that as many as 4 male bullet connectors can plug into.

Oh---when you're doing this, make sure you don't touch the end of the red frame wire to the metal body--It'll make a short circuit which, though not dangerous per se, can blow a fuse.
 
Nah--With the lights on, just pull the red frame wire out of the 4-way connector and touch it to the one on the new light assembly. That 4-way connector is only a single piece of flat metal that's curled up on the ends to form a round socket that as many as 4 male bullet connectors can plug into.

Oh---when you're doing this, make sure you don't touch the end of the red frame wire to the metal body--It'll make a short circuit which, though not dangerous per se, can blow a fuse.
ok i will try that after work today thanks!
 

hillstrubl

Observer
This happens to my Pass side (RHD) taillight from time to time. Its because the contacts that actually touch the bulb aren't touching. Open up the taillight assembly, and with a flathead screwdriver, bend up the 2 small contacts very slightly (so if the tailight is installed, bend away from the vehicle) about 1/4" or less. Cover with dilectric grease, reassemble and be good to go for another 6 months or so.
 
This happens to my Pass side (RHD) taillight from time to time. Its because the contacts that actually touch the bulb aren't touching. Open up the taillight assembly, and with a flathead screwdriver, bend up the 2 small contacts very slightly (so if the tailight is installed, bend away from the vehicle) about 1/4" or less. Cover with dilectric grease, reassemble and be good to go for another 6 months or so.

thanks, i will try that aswell. I had no time to do it today so hopefully tomorrow i will have time to look at it!
 

crusader

Adventurer
With the black ground wire plugged in? Was the lightswitch on?

Perhaps it would help if you were able to visualize what's happening with this basic circuit:

6114733107_ecd7df800e_z.jpg


When the light switch is turned on, electricity flows down the red wire from the chassis (lower right in the diagram), into the 4-way connector where it splits off to the right and left bulbs.
.
Once it reaches the bulb, the electricity flows through the tail lamp filament and then to the outer metal shell of the bulb.
.
From the metal shell, it flows out through the black ground wire to the aluminum rear tub, then back to the battery using the metal of the body and chassis as a "wire".

.
As you can see, the brake light does the same thing on a second filament inside the bulb, but uses the same outer metal shell as its ground. If that ground is sufficient to complete the electrical path for the brake lights, it is sufficient for the tail lights as well.
.
Presuming that the black wire was connected and the light switch was on for your test, the only thing that could stop the electricity from illuminating the tail lamp is a poor contact between the lamp socket and the bulb, as described by hillstrubl, or your bulb is burned out.
 
With the black ground wire plugged in? Was the lightswitch on?

Perhaps it would help if you were able to visualize what's happening with this basic circuit:

6114733107_ecd7df800e_z.jpg


When the light switch is turned on, electricity flows down the red wire from the chassis (lower right in the diagram), into the 4-way connector where it splits off to the right and left bulbs.
.
Once it reaches the bulb, the electricity flows through the tail lamp filament and then to the outer metal shell of the bulb.
.
From the metal shell, it flows out through the black ground wire to the aluminum rear tub, then back to the battery using the metal of the body and chassis as a "wire".

.
As you can see, the brake light does the same thing on a second filament inside the bulb, but uses the same outer metal shell as its ground. If that ground is sufficient to complete the electrical path for the brake lights, it is sufficient for the tail lights as well.
.
Presuming that the black wire was connected and the light switch was on for your test, the only thing that could stop the electricity from illuminating the tail lamp is a poor contact between the lamp socket and the bulb, as described by hillstrubl, or your bulb is burned out.


ok i will try really looking into it today. i have a little free time today finally. thank you, wish me luck!
 
I'll ask again, do you have a meter to see if you have voltage into that connector ? The process of elimination would go extremely quickly if you did. A cheap one can be had for less than $20.
 

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