Rear brake light/turn signal dead - bulbs good

[macdude443]

Starting this morning, I have no rear right-hand turn signal, brake light or hazard light.  The running light/tail light filament lights, thus the common ground is fine.  Captspillane lent me a copy of the '81 wiring diagram, but the colors/wiring paths are different on my '82.  The '81 shows separate 2-wire turn signals and marker/stop lights, which I don't understand at all.  It also shows right/left stop light wiring coming together in a junction before the connector behind the driver's side kick-panel, which doesn't appear to be the case on mine.  Does anyone have an image of the '82 TSM showing the bulbs to the connector?

[eaglebeek]

I know you said the ground is good because the tail light filaments light...but that's not always true. The filaments in the bulb are connected together at one end. If the ground is absent or is a poor connection the electrical current will feed back through the wiring and find a ground somewhere else. I also know this is far-fetched but it has happened to me many times in my experience as a mechanic. Please check the ground...it's one of the easiest checks you can make.

[macdude443]

I know you said the ground is good because the tail light filaments light...but that's not always true. The filaments in the bulb are connected together at one end. If the ground is absent or is a poor connection the electrical current will feed back through the wiring and find a ground somewhere else. I also know this is far-fetched but it has happened to me many times in my experience as a mechanic. Please check the ground...it's one of the easiest checks you can make.

I know I reseated it a few times at the socket.  I assume the other end is at the apparent star ground at the sheet metal screw on the filler neck?

[eaglebeek]

I know I reseated it a few times at the socket.  I assume the other end is at the apparent star ground at the sheet metal screw on the filler neck?

That should be it. The "star" is a #8 or #10 lockwasher under the screw head.

[macdude443]

Ground is fine.  Both left and right lights appear to share that ground, and since the right works it rules that out.  I cleaned and tightened it anyhow.

[macdude443]

Found my issue.  On the right side of the steering column, there is a multi-pin connector.  One of the wires had come off it's pin.  Kind of a pain to free the pin, but so far so good.  Will report back if I have light.

[macdude443]

That solved it.  The connector was also making poor contact, so I cleaned it.  I'd recommend doing this to all the connectors.