Light Frustration :\

[VanLifeCrisis]

So i got the new van on the road!&nbsp; yay!&nbsp; Been adjusting to driving such a big vehicle with no windows <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" class="bbc_img">&nbsp; The problem is the van had a burnt out tail lamp socket.&nbsp; I figure no big deal, just replace it.&nbsp; Well i got a replacement for it but it appears to only have 3 wires unlike the original that had 4 (its a 'universal' replacement).&nbsp; No matter how we wired it up, the best we could get is the lights work fine if the running lights aren't on, but when they are on, pressing the brake or the turn signal makes the light go out.&nbsp; <br><br>We tried every auto part place around and its the same thing, 3 wires, even though we look up the exact year and model (as opposed to a universal one).&nbsp; I figure ok, tricky bugger, I'll go to the junk yard and get the same van and rip it out.&nbsp; But they didn't have any van's there but a safari, which has the same socket, fits in the grooves, but also has just 3 wires?!&nbsp;&nbsp; Grrr frustration. <br><br>Although cops here are pretty lenient, they do pull me over (or follow me forever) more than any place ive ever lived (with the epidemic of drunk drivers here no surprise).&nbsp; I really don't want to give them more cause to do so <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/frown.gif" class="bbc_img">&nbsp; <br><br>Anyone know a good online used part place where i can see the number of wires?&nbsp; I tried googling but didn't come up with anything helpful.

 

[Guest]

3wires is all you need for a tail light. One ground , 1 running light , and 1 signal light. The case where the bulb sits in is ground and the 2 wires going up the center are the light wires. Hook the ground to bare metal on the chassis, turn your running lights on and one at I time pick the dimmest glow that would be your running light. Next wire would be the brighter and that is the signal/ brake light.. That fourth wire could be to power the side clearance light. The reason your light is going off is a ground fault , hard to explain whith out being there. Let me know how you make out

 

[ccbreder]

Yes. That is&nbsp;symptom&nbsp;of lost ground to the socket.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Still not clear what the problem was, but I got it fixed by someone who knew what the heck he was doing <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" class="bbc_img">&nbsp; He was down on his luck and someone asked me to give them my beat up minivan i was planning to scrap, and turns out he could fix it, so it all worked out.&nbsp; Don't believe in karma but some times things do seem to come together.