LED Tail Light Issue

[Grognard]

After some research and no answers that I could find I am hoping someone here can set me on the right path.

Recently bought a 2005 TJ Rubicon and it developed the hyperflash turn signal on the driver's side (all stock parts from what I could tell) so I decided to go ahead and swap out to LED's. Went ahead and bought the Quadratec LED kit that comes with the flasher unit and lights with the connectors that hook to the stock ones.

Everything connected up fine except the drivers running light does not work. Everything else does. I am thinking that the previous owner did some wire modifications because the red/green wire had been cut on the stock tail light unit and and there was a solid yellow wire connected in to it.

That yellow wire is running from somewhere in the tub but I am trouble following it and cannot really tell where it is going. It looks like it might hook into a trailer wire harness but I am not 100 percent on that. All I know is that it connected in to the stock light unit red/green wire while the other end (towards the connector) was not hooked into anything.

I have a feeling that the drivers running light voltage may be on that yellow wire and that I am going to need to splice it in. The LED unit has a red, green and black wire that runs into the harness connector. If I do need to splice this yellow wire in, anybody have a clue on which wire on the LED tail unit that I splice it in to?

A couple of other items with my rig.. it does not have a high center brake light hooked up, the previous owner removed it when they put on the aftermarket tire carrier/bumper with the 33" spare. I assume they tucked the wire back into the tub somewhere but I don't think it is an issue.

Also, as I said before, the running lights did work fine with the stock hardware so I really think that solid yellow wire may be the issue.

Is there anything that I am missing? Hoping someone may have an idea on this one?

Thx!

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Are taillight guards installed? If so they can cause a grounding problem between the tail light housing and tub which can cause problems. The lack of a 3rd brake light won't cause problems assuming its wiring harness behind the two button contacts in the tailgate opening is in a protected location and not being pinched so it could short to ground.

 

[Steel City 06]

Download the FSM for your 2005:
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads...ice-manuals-fsm-technical-documentation.4618/I recommend a PC or a tablet.
Check out the wiring diagrams. There is a diagram for every system, including the taillights. These diagrams will identify the colors, gauge, splices, connectors, etc. for every wire in the car.
This may help with finding the right wire, and figuring out wtf the previous owner did

 

[Grognard]

Thank you so much for posting that sticky with the FSM's. I actually was looking for that file online but whenever I thought I found a good link, it was a dead end. Very much appreciated and I should have looked through the sticky's on the forum in the first place. This is my first TJ and most of my repair manuals are from my old 93 YJ that I unfortunately had to put out to pasture a couple years ago.

Looking at the stock wiring diagram, I feel much more comfortable now on what and where I will need to splice in.

Jerry, my rig doesn't have a tail light guard installed. There is a CB antenna bracket but unless all three bolts need to be in for it to be grounded, it is not a ground issue. At first I thought it could be that but unless the running lights require all three bolts to be for it to work, I think I am good on my ground. I did sand the bolt holes. Just to be safe, I will make sure to check on having all three bolts in and tight. Like I said before, the backup lights, brake light and turn signal works fine ... just no running light on the drivers side.

Pretty sure this is just a modification from the previous owner so thanks again for the help and hopefully splicing in the wire will work.

Thanks again!