Tail light problem

[eo19]

My drivers side tail light is not working. I put a new bulb in but that wasn't the problem. Any suggestions? I just got the pup out and clean the outside. I haven't tried to check the wiring running under the camper.

[wavery]

My drivers side tail light is not working. I put a new bulb in but that wasn't the problem. Any suggestions? I just got the pup out and clean the outside. I haven't tried to check the wiring running under the camper.

Always check for a bad ground first

[GrizzlyTaco]

You might try checking the contacts for oxidation, this will keep the bulb from making good contact. when I first brought the PU home I put Dielectric Grease in all the light sockets. Its special so it wont ark and locks out moisture that causes oxidation. i just squirted it into the socket and replaced the bulbs. Its non conductive so it wont short out anything. You can get it at any auto parts store. They use it for spark plugs, but it works perfect for this. Dielectric Grease, comes in very small packs..........Ed C.   :sombraro:

[Manchesterjim]

My drivers side tail light is not working. I put a new bulb in but that wasn't the problem. Any suggestions? I just got the pup out and clean the outside. I haven't tried to check the wiring running under the camper.

I see there are already some good tips....just remember to UNPLUG the trailor from the TV before cleaning the contacts in the sockets...otherwise you'll get a short and blow the tailight fuses in your TV......
 
The dielectric grease is an excelent suggestion...you'll also find it in use on a lot of auto battery terminals....for the same reasons.
 
Jim

[rbrent]

Not sure if this will help. But I had a problem with only one tail light not working and I found that on my 2003 Silverado there are seperate fuses for each side of the trailer lights on the drivers side of the dash that had one fuse blown. replaced that fuse and no problem since. Not sure if your 2002 Tahoe has the same. might want to check!  Good Luck!

[jclark]

I had the same problem, or symptom at least. Changing the bulb didn't fix it and everything else looked OK. I was baffled until I plugged the trailer into a friend's car and the tail light worked! The fuses were OK. It ended up being a problem with the four pin connector on the TV side. So I had U-haul replace the connector at the same time they installed the break controller and it fixed the problem.

[Billy Bob]

What you need is a test light that can bought at any auto parts store. It looks something like a screw drive but on the end it has a needle point and on the other end it has a wire with a alligator clip. You hook the alligator end clip on any ground and use the pointed end to check for power and if there is power the light will light.

Start at the TV plug and hook the alligator end to the ground end of the plug and then touch each positive end of the plug while power is being supplied to that terminal. If the light lights then continue on back until you find no power. This sounds a LOT more complicated as I write this but if you ever seen someone use a test light you would realize how easy it is to find you problem.