Rear tail lights not working

[83 K20]

hi everyone on my chevy k20 i took the bed off to paint the truck and when i unplugged the tail lights everything worked fine now that i put the bed back on nothings working I'm getting no power to the tail lights not with turn signals or break lights please someone help i checked the fuses, grounds and i put a meter up to the plug and I'm not getting a reading. thanks

 

[Honky Kong jr]

hi everyone on my chevy k20 i took the bed off to paint the truck and when i unplugged the tail lights everything worked fine now that i put the bed back on nothings working I'm getting no power to the tail lights not with turn signals or break lights please someone help i checked the fuses, grounds and i put a meter up to the plug and I'm not getting a reading. thanks

Did you pull the grounds loose? Did you possibly pop the fuse by having the connector apart and grounding out? Or maybe pinched the harness and cutting it and grounding it out. Do you have a good ground between the chassis and bed, paint build up can negate a good ground. Don't assume that just because the bed is sitting on the frame that it's gonna give a good ground. I added extras to be sure the ground is good.

 

[chengny]

hi everyone on my chevy k20 i took the bed off to paint the truck and when i unplugged the tail lights everything worked fine now that i put the bed back on nothings working I'm getting no power to the tail lights not with turn signals or break lights please someone help i checked the fuses, grounds and i put a meter up to the plug and I'm not getting a reading. thanks

So, you mean everything is out - or just the brake/directional lights (DK GRN 19 & YEL 18 circuits)?

How about the tail/marker/plate lights (BRN 9 circuit)? Or the backup lights (LT GRN 24)?


Also, if I read it correctly, you separated the weathertite plug and checked voltages there - right? The black probe of the meter was firmly in contact with a rust-free/unpainted spot on the frame?

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

If there is no power at the W/T plug - next check for power where the affected circuits exit the bulkhead connector:

You must be registered for see images attach

If there is power there, you will have to do as HK jr first suggests and inspect the entire run of the rear lighting harness. If there is a problem along the run, it should jump right out at you. See post #15 of this thread for images of the harness routing:

http://www.gmsquarebody.com/threads/flashers-show-hazards.18482/#post-346080

 

[83 K20]

i checked all the wires in the run and they all are good and if i pull the fuse and stick the meter in and i get power there the grounds are all good is not only break lights its all the lights that don't have power back there

 

[chengny]

i checked all the wires in the run and they all are good and if i pull the fuse and stick the meter in and i get power there the grounds are all good is not only break lights its all the lights that don't have power back there

Did you check at the engine side of the bulkhead connector?