Tail Light Problem

[scheinerj]

I wired up my new MB tail lights on my restoration of my CJ3A (But I am using an MB wiring harness). They worked about 4 days ago, then randomly they stopped working. I haven't driven the vehicle at all, only moved it a few feet.

I can't get any light from either side to work.
I used my test light and it seems I have power going all the way back to the tail light. When I touched the test light to the tail light power in the housing it threw sparks at me.
I also took off the tail light and sanded down the rear facing side where the ground goes against.
I can't figure out what it is

Jordan

[nick peters]

Hello Jordan
It may be a silly question' If you have a 12volt system ? Have you uses 6volt units? Otherwise check your earthing again.
regards Nick

[Joe Gopan]

Correct mounting is to place a 1/4" Int/Ext Washer on the studs before putting the lamp on the tub and then install Int/Ext Tooth washers under the nuts. Perhaps the pigtails are not making contact with the bulbs. Best too install pigtails into housings without bulbs in place, then install bulbs.

[scheinerj]

I did think of that but I also remembering ordering 12 volt tail lights for my 12 volt system.
Is there are way to tell on the tail light if it is 6 or 12? I just dropped it off at the mechanic to look at the clutch, I will have him look at the tail light too.
Thanks!
Jordan S.

[Joe Gopan]

Voltage is rubber stamped on the body of each bulb.

[scheinerj]

Apologies to bring this back.
Would it have been possible that the tail lights fried themselves somehow?
They were working great, then randomly stopped working. Once again will have the mechanic look at them.
Power is going all the way into the wires right before connection to TL's.

[Joe Gopan]

It may be as simple as a poor ground. Did you install Shake Proof Washers on the mounting studs?

[nick peters]

Have you disconnected the pigtail plugs from the light buckets to check you have power to each of them. You posted that you have power up to the connector. Obviously if you don't have power all the way then you have to suspect the connector. You posted that the units were fine and then both failed. So I can see why you asked if they were fried somehow I don't know such a power surge would be possible. Still think you may have had the wrong voltage units
Nick

[Mud skipper]

I had the same type of issue. I had power at the connector and the bulbs were good.
I found that the end of the bulbs needed to be lightly sanded to make a good connection with the connector.

[Chuck Lutz]

1) test each lamp to insure it is not fried with an ohmmeter for continuity
2) test each lead in the bucket with the lamp OUT to see if the wiring is carrying power

But this requires you to have wired the harness, the 6-post and the light switch correctly and then for the light switch to be in the correct position for each lamp to work.

More often it is poor or missing ROUND as noted above.

By the way, which ones DID work, which ones don't work now and which ones were not tested?

[Joe Gopan]

More often it is poor or missing ROUND as noted above.

You talk funny,

[Chuck Lutz]

"G"....really?

[scheinerj]

Thanks for all of the ideas friends. I am going to try and work through it this weekend.
Chuck to answer your question, I tested each setting and they all worked.
And When I had it the lights connected I used the test light to try and check it, and it threw some sparks at me. I don't think I got power however.
Thank you.
JS

[scheinerj]

Unfortunately, I am a dumby. I have a 12V system and did not realize I used 6V tail lights.

The real problem is what happened after I installed the correct 12 V lights.


After putting them in, I went to turn them on and pull the light switch out to test multiple settings, and they flashed for half a second then turned off.

I have not been able to get them to turn on since. Previously, with the 6V lights in the 12V system. I was able to get them on for a while, then they stopped working. This is just strange because they turned on for a second then went off. I haven't had time to check the wiring again but I have not made any changes. Just simply took out the old and plugged the new in.

I will check tomorrow with a multimeter to make sure power is getting to them.


JS

[artificer]

they flashed for half a second then turned off....I have not been able to get them to turn on since.

After trying to put 12V through a 6V light bulb, the bulbs will never work again. They are what is called 'blown' or 'burned out'.