Driver side tailight acting up.

[shawn stonbraker 2]

Here's the situation. My father-in-law has a ST that he is selling. He told me last night that the driver's side tail light is acting wierd and noone he took it to could figure it out. I figured I'd get the guru's here to give me some ideas to check for before I went out to look at it. Sopposedly this all started when they had a bulb replaced in the instrument cluster.



What's going on is:



1. The brake light and turnsignal won't work. The front works fine except flashes real fast. I thought Lamp burnt out but he says no. (I'm still going to check.)



2. He says that the parking lights work though. The only thing that doesn't work is the turn/brake. (this makes me think switch maybe?)



He has had the wire traced to where it enters the cab and the place (not dealership) said the wire seems fine. Is there a place I need to check under the dash or something?



Thanks ahead of time for any replys.

 

[Evan F]

change the harness or clean the harness with electrical contact cleaner.

 

[01TRAC MIND]

Here is some info. Pretty common.

 

[shawn stonbraker 2]

I thought the same thing except, it's just one side. The pass. side works fine. Also there is power getting to the parking light on that side. Just no power getting to the brake/turn light. By the way it's an '02.

 

[Kevin Palmer]

Tilt the column and I am willing to bet it is solved.



Very common for it to affect only one side...

 

[shawn stonbraker 2]

Ok, thanks. I thought when it was that problem, it affected both. Thanks all. I'll tell him tonight to check that out and see.

 

[Richard L]

stonemiser,



All the wiring for the turn signals, horn, wipers, etc go through the steering column including the ignition, starter, taillights and brake lights. Costiejoe is correct. It's most likely the connector in the steering column getting pulled apart by the tilt wheel.



...Rich

 

[Doug Feck]

Check your towing harness connector in the rear. Mine had the same problem and found out that the connector had corroded and shorted out. Causing the signal to flash VERY fast and ramdonly without having the turn signal switch activated.