My tail lights aren't working. The right side never worked (bought car used) and now the left side isn't working either.
I do have turn signals and the bulbs appear fine. However the socket on the left side for the running light is slightly
melted. This is the side that just went out. I bought a multi-meter & tried seeing if there was current going to the light
but I'm not sure if I'm doing it right. The instructions are crap & I've never used one before. So where do I start to figure
out what is wrong with the rear tail lights? Also the dash light is out. It went out around the same time. All the fuses are fine,
but I can't seem to find on the manual's diagram which particular fuse is responsible for the rear lights or the dash. I'm missing
the fuse cover too. So any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Cody

 

a test light would work better but a multi meter will work fine. set it at 50 on the dc side. poke the red lead on what want to check and hold the black lead on a good ground. when the needle swings up, yu found juice. finding something with a good ground is the hard part. usually everything is painted or rusty and is hard to get ground from.i would start by unplugging the light socket from the back of the tailight houseing and see if you have any juice there. have a buddy hit the brakes and the parks and see if you have any juice at all.now make sure both filiments in your bulbs are good because one filament can work while the other is burnt out. i always like to have a good supply of bulbs on hand.see if your getting any juice back there then let us know what you have found out.oh pick up a good test light if you can, they are much easier to use on a prob like this that a mult meter.

 

Thanks! I think I located the problems. I forgot about the fuse box under the hood so I checked that and found part of the problem. Also one of the light sockets was melted slightly.....loose ground wire. So I am off to the junk yard (my favorite place in the world out side of the parts stores).