Whats up everyone. I'm beyond frustrated with my 01 ram 1500. All of my external lights work except my tail lights. Directionals work, break lights work, flashers work but my tail lights and license plate lights do not. I have changed the bulbs, changed the brake pedal switch, changed the light switch. Checked the wiring and can't find any issues. All my fuzes are good as well, yet I still don't have tail lights and license plate lights. Anyone have some advise as to what might be wrong?

 

Check the ground wires and your trailer harness, if so equipped. Check the wires running in the rear to those tail lights, too and fix any breaks in the wiring. You can download the the service manual and review the wiring diagrams here - https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...e-manuals.html

 

Can you confirm the front *marker* lights work ? Most people turn on the headlights and don't really look closely at the marker lights. If the marker lights work then the problem is after the headlight switch and after splice S104. If the trailer tow wiring is from the factory the trailer lighting is separate from the truck tail lights, if it's done aftermarket it's probably tapped in somewhere.

 

Front marker lights do work. Everything up front works.

 

Have you used a test light on the fuses to both terminals? I’ve had fuses that “looked good” but had power to only one side. If that checks out use test light and see if there’s power to the bulb sockets, if not it’s probably bad wiring somewhere….

my 95 had grounds corroded, but that issue made it so when I’d hit blinkers, my reverse lights would flash, brakes would light brake lights and reverse lights…..so I’m thinking yours is a power issue not a ground

 

Then the fuse and switch is good. Most likely a problem with the actual wiring. I would take the connector under the rear of the truck apart and test for power there. No power then head towards the cab. If there's power that far, the problem is from there to the tail lights.

 

Ok, then trace the wiring from the cab back to the tail lights. It's a black/yellow wire, and look closely at the splice that is somewhere on the left frame rail near the spare tire.