Miccar

One of my rear backup lights was not working and had been like that for a long time. Last week, I got under the car and reseated the plug in the socket by fiddling with the rear light connection. Then both backup lights worked for a few days. Then the other backup light went out. After determining it wasn't the bulb, I fiddled with rear plug but nothing happened. I removed the light and crimped the fitting to hold it in place and reassembled everything. Now both backup lights, tail lamps and rear side markers won't illuminate. The brake lights and rear directionals do work however. I noticed a black ground wire hanging on the driver side, but don't know where it gets connected. There is a metal ring terminal on the back of each light. Is this where it might get connected? I also noticed a striped brown wire that was cut, but there was no copper showing and it looked like it might have been that way for awhile. Should I splice these wires together as they are the same color? Thanks for any help.

Alan 71

Hi m,
The wire you see is a ground for the rear lighting harness.
It's fastened to the inner side of the driver's side frame rail with a small bolt.
You should be able to see the small hole in the frame for the connection.
Regards,
Alan

You can see the direction the wire takes on it's way to it's bolt in the frame rail.

Miccar

Hello Alan,

Thank you for the picture. That is definitely the wire. It's still connected to the frame, but I don't know where the other end goes. There are two green/black wires that were taped together perhaps it goes there, or maybe the metal ring terminal on the light fixture? Do you know where the other end goes?

Miccar

Hello,

Does anyone know where the other end of the ground wire gets connected to? Thank you.

Miccar

There is a green wire with a black stripe connected to a black wire. Should this wire be connected to the black wire that is grounded to the frame?

Alan 71

Hi,
On my 71 the ground wire runs from the frame rail connection to left-side, inboard (back-up) light mounting stud.
A wire thens runs to the mounting studs on the other 3 lights.
You can see the stud and the wire in this picture.
Regards
Alan
This is the left/outboard light.

Miccar

Thank you so much. For some reason on my 72, I have a black wire with a green wire with a black stripe mounted to the driver rear backup lamp bolt. That's why I was a little confused. I thought the green wire with a black stripe wasn't a ground. Thank you for taking the time to respond!

GarthVader

Alan, thanks so much, this solves my issue as well. I posted a question similar to this about a week ago but I couldn't find the exact location for the ground. Your picture just saved me a lot of grief.