Tail Light Problem on 03 SSEi - no electricity to outer bulb

[kts0347]

My 02 tail light won't illuminate on the passenger side outer bulb only. Both bulbs are lit on the driver side, and the inner bulb is lit on the passenger side when I switch on the headlights or when I click the remote.

I replaced the outer bulb but that was not the problem.

I checked the circuit from the rear connector to the bulb. There is a blue wire and a black wire. I confirmed this circuit is ok with a resistance test.

I checked for voltage on the upstream side of the rear connector (behind the trunk side trim panel). There was 12 volts for the circuit to the inner bulb, but no voltage for the circuit to the outer bulb (blue and black wires) It looks like my problem is upstream somewhere from the trunk.

I have no idea where the circuit goes from there. Is there a separate fuse for each bulb in the tail lamp? The wires for each bulb appear to go forward independently out of the trunk.

What should my next diagnosis steps be?

Thank you for your help.

Keith

[J Wikoff]

I can't be much help with 00+ wiring, but I can give you free bumps!

[harofreak00]

Not really a common problem. No, there are no individual fuses per bulb.

You are going to have to do some detective work to find the problem. Keep doing what you have been doing and keep tracing back the problem as far as you can go.

[J Wikoff]

Any idea where the wiring goes from there?

[harofreak00]

Along the side of the trunk, and under the seat to the fuse box

[Archon]

This is the wiring diagram for the passenger side tail and brake lamps. It shows that the wiring for the tail lamps should be purple.

[The extension gif has been deactivated and can no longer be displayed.]

It changes from brown and white at connector 402. This shows that location.

[The extension gif has been deactivated and can no longer be displayed.]

If you wanted an easy fix, just run a jumper wire from the wiring of the light that is working over to the light that is not.

The forum seems to lose attachments after a period of time.

[myfirstbonnie]

Does it work with the brakes? If not, I would look at that junction S408 on the ground / negative side where it joins with the other bulb.

[kts0347]

Thanks for the ideas and schematics. I have some next steps now, and I'll check them out as soon as it stops raining.

My next actions: Check if brake lights work. If they don't either, then likely cause is splice at S408 (on the black wire) which is under the tape in the wiring that passes through the rear outer panel.

I also reviewed the schematic and can see that there is nothing upstream that would still permit some of the lights to work while others don't So the problem is either a bad splice at S402 or a connector problem at P402 or perhaps even a corroded lamp socket.

But it definitely is confined to the lamp assembly and wiring in the trunk. That really limits the areas I have to check.

Thanks again. I'll post when I solve the problem. (note the confidence you have given me.)

Keith

[bduchateau]

can you forward me this schematic. previous links are gone....