01-08-2011, 09:49 AM
(This post was last modified: 01-08-2011, 09:53 AM by broncosbybart.)
The dimmer should have nothing to do with the tail lights. Me thinks bad grounds are very likely. You can use a test light to check for voltage and they are a lot easier to use than a multi meter, IMHO. The good thing is that there are not very many wires to be concerned with on these old beasts. I would start by cleaning a small area on the rear of the frame to use as a ground for your test light and checking the sockets for 12V with the lenses off and bulbs out. The tail lights do not have a ground wire, The metal housing is grounded to the body by the 2 large phillips mounting bolts. If you do not get 12 V to the sockets, you know to check elsewhere for power supply issues (bad connections, faulty switch, or wiring issues). If you do get power to the socket with your headlights or brakelights on you know that it is a grounding issue and things just need to be cleaned up. I hope you find the problem quickly. Not a fan of the cold either...