Tail Lights

How do I start trouble-shooting why my tail lights quit working in the past few days? My turn signals and brake lights still work in the rear, but the tail lights are not coming on. Switch gone bad? If one of the bulbs goes out, do both?

 

If one light is burnt out, the other tail light should stay lit. How about the front parking lights? . If they are out also then I would suspect the switch. Do they light when the light switch is in the middle (parking lights) position? If the front parking lights remain on in both positions of the light switch, then I think there is a wiring problem going to the rear taillights.

 

I too was very distressed when ths happened to me a few years ago. After checking for current and cleaning all the contacts etc. re-doing wire splices and the like, I remembered old advice to replace bulbs in pairs (or in fours in this case) because they are likely to blow at roughly the same time due to manufacturing processes. I was frustrated, dirty and scratched up when I realized I simply needed $5 worth of bulbs.

 

Well, I replaced the bulbs and that did not fix it. So, I began to trace the wiring while the parking lights were on. In ~30 seconds the tail lights started working. It was the connection by the steering box. Fastest fix I can remember.

 

Thats where my biggest problem is now. I am planning on replacing that circuit to get a fresh start.