License plate lights don’t work

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BGPick

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Illinois
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David
Truck Year
1986
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C20 2WD
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6.2L Detroit Diesel
Just bought the truck, and someone hacked up the rear wiring to install trailer plug/harness. All rear lights work just fine (brake/turn/reverse) except I have no license plate lights.

Does anyone know what wire from the front of the truck runs to those lights? Or can I just tap into in the rear of the truck somewhere for a new power source when the running lights are on.
 

DanMcG

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There should be a brown wire in the harness for them and your parking lights that you can splice into.
 

Craig 85

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If you don't want to splice the wires, you can buy one of these trailer wire "T"s. In the photo, I don't have the right side hook up since the bed was off.

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chengny

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Jerry
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K3500
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Just bought the truck, and someone hacked up the rear wiring to install trailer plug/harness. All rear lights work just fine (brake/turn/reverse) except I have no license plate lights.

Does anyone know what wire from the front of the truck runs to those lights? Or can I just tap into in the rear of the truck somewhere for a new power source when the running lights are on.

The plate lights have just a single hot wire and are grounded through the body of the socket, then to the bumper. This is as opposed to the rest of the lamps in the rear lighting group, all of which have a ground wire in addition to their associated hot wires.

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Before tearing into the harness. Check for power on the single button terminal in the plate light sockets. If you get voltage there, make sure that the mounting fasteners are tight and the surface under the flange is clean. And you did check the lamps- right?
 

BGPick

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Illinois
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David
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
C20 2WD
Engine Size
6.2L Detroit Diesel
I was able to locate the "T" with both brown wires sticking out and snipped clean off!
Cut fresh tips and re-connected everything and bam! Thanks for the help guys!!

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smoothandlow84

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Steve
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1984 Frame...87 motor and 700r trans
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1500 r10 pavement scraper
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350 TBI
Sweet...always glad to hear that a problem (especially electrical) has been solved !
 

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