Tailgate Lights Not Working

[RenaissanceMan]

2005 3.0i. My tailgate lights are not turning on at all. I have tested the bulbs and they are both good. I'm not getting any voltage to the connectors either with the lights on. I don't see any fuses that are specific to those lamps, but I do see that there is a Light Module. Is there a harness connection somewhere for these I can check?

[andrewwynn]

Brake and run or just one of them?


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[RenaissanceMan]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Brake and run or just one of them?


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Neither applying the brakes nor turning on lights/parking lights turns them on if that's what you're asking.

[Homerlovesbeer]

Have you tried bending the small metal tags in the bulb holder so it makes better contact with the socket? I had issues where proper contact wasn't being made.

Did you test for voltage at the 5 pin connector that goes onto the holder?

[andrewwynn]

Sounds like he measured at the connector all won't be the usual overheated contacts common problem.

Fuse or bad LCM. Sounds like both sides no run or brake/turn.

Does center brake light?


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[RenaissanceMan]

Originally Posted by Homerlovesbeer

Have you tried bending the small metal tags in the bulb holder so it makes better contact with the socket? I had issues where proper contact wasn't being made.

Did you test for voltage at the 5 pin connector that goes onto the holder?

Yep, not a socket/contact issue. I've had those before. There is no voltage at the connectors that plug in so no power is getting back there for some reason.

[RenaissanceMan]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Sounds like he measured at the connector all won't be the usual overheated contacts common problem.

Fuse or bad LCM. Sounds like both sides no run or brake/turn.

Does center brake light?


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Center brake light works, yes. I couldn't find specific fuses in the Bentley manual listing for those tailgate taillights... Have you seen LCMs go bad before in these?

[andrewwynn]

Mine had a defect from day one didn't light the left side marker. Never bothered to fix all the other lights worked.

[RenaissanceMan]

I checked INPA for light module fault codes and there were none. When an LCM fails, does it typically throw faults?

I guess the next thing I will check is the taillight wiring loom and see if I’m getting voltage there and if not try and figure out which pins should be showing power from the LCM. Any other suggestions?

[andrewwynn]

Pins at the LCM i think then you know if it's LCM or wiring.

newtis will have the exact pinout