Missing Wires ??

[Bla3kDynomite]

I recently bought a 96 Chevy Tahoe 2wD wagon and i’m in the process of getting it road ready.I removed the tail light(s) housing and found out the wires aren’t there.I’ve checked underneath the vehicle for some form of wiring and only see the trailer hardware. Nothing is visible in hole were it should be is there a wiring harness that goes to taillights? If so how/were is it located.Also were could I attach new wiring for the taillights I don’t see anything labeled in the hood or fire wall. Thanks

View attachment 218330 View attachment 218331

 

[drakon543]

the wiring for the taillights comes back to where it splits for each side and is supposed to have a harness for the trailer lights.

 

[Bla3kDynomite]

Are the wires under the vehicle or under the carpet?

 

[96-2D-Hoe]

Pretty sure it's inside the truck. Comes through a hole in the panel that's directly behind the lower end of the light fitting, but that's as far as I know/remember.

But now I think about all the trailer hitch wiring... ehhh.

 

[PG01]

As far as I remember it all comes down the drivers side framerail and there is a few connectors, 1 to trailer hitch and one to both tails. You should have a hanging connector under there just past tge rearend

 

[96-2D-Hoe]

Driver side


Passenger


I can't remember what this is supposed to look like as I have a trailer harness adapter thing I put in there 15 years ago. Been wanting to take it out recently but I'm not sure how it's supposed to go together This is the block in the center at the back Galante mentioned


Hope that helps.

 

[drakon543]

962dhoe has the correct picture in the rear the harness is in the middle. to undo the trailer harness just take off both plugs remove the middle part and plug them into each other. if left unplugged one or both taillights wont work cant remember. so it may go directly to the drv side taillight and back down to above shown picture then over to the passenger side. or it will go back up and then split again for left and right. if you have operational trailer lights it wont be too much hassle to get the rest of the taillights working again.

 

[Bla3kDynomite]

I’ve located what seems to be the “main harness” and it’s completely fried like it’s been ripped off.Should I try to splice these back together or is there some were I could purchase the T with the connectors for the lamps.also under unsure of the purpose of a few of the wires.

 

[PG01]

I guess technically you can piece everything out. I would go to auto parts store, Walmart, tractor supply and but a plug and play trailer harness, maybe 2 or 3 of them, run one to pass side,1 to drivers side and 1 to trailer. Cut ends off and splice everthing color for color. Trailer harness tells you exactly what wires are what. Brown is left turn, yellow right turn, blue tails, green brakes, white ground, etc etc or something like that. Those aren’t exactly the right color combos but it’s something like that. Or, you hit up a junk yard and grab it from a pickup, or 4 door tahoe or something like that. Or piece out every wire with lengths of wire etc. just ideas but i think you get my drift. Just make sure to solder, tape and heat shrink everything, no wire nuts or twist and tape kinda thing.
An auto parts store may even have connectors woth pigtails in the help section so you can plug it all together, youll still have to splice the new ends on but it’s easily pulled apart for diagnosing issues if you swapped a wire or something. Hope you understand my post and i helped.

 

[drakon543]

rock auto has both the Male and female plugs for the taillights. you would have to figure out which wire goes where as replacement plugs come with all gray wires. your best option so your not hunting for more information and so you can get a solid length of the harness. go to a local pickapart and cut back as much of the harness as you want and splice that in. the other wires are probably for aux towing equipment. power and trailer brake wires are also usually run back there.

 

[PG01]

Pretty close to this

 

[Sean James]

Like Galante says. It's pretty easy to figure out. You need a multi-meter, set to 20V's. Just start tracing power to ground with the parking lights on. Tape labels onto tail/parking light(s) wires with parking light switch on. Labels onto brake lights with brake pedal pushed down with a block of wood etc. or a helper. Put into reverse with key on, parking lights off, etc. Wipe dirt out of your eyes, and keep going, you'll figure it out. Power to ground on a multi-meter, easy peisi. Check all fuses first, don't let any wires touch metal ground or one-another, you'll get it. Parking/driving lights can have one wire, same with brake lights, and spliced to both tail-lights. Turn signal wires are separate powers and you will see power switching on and then off (an anolog/old school multi-meter works best for this). Set multi-meter to "Continuity" to check black wires to ground. I know it looks like a mess, but once you get going it's a piece of cake. You need 16 or 18 gauge wire, wire stripper (or sharp teeth), angle cutter, crimp connectors (or small twisties, my favorite) small zip ties, black tape, some wire loom (that black plastic tubing with the slit down the side) and patience. And oh! Why little red twist connectors? Over the last 30 years, I have had dozens of crimp connectors come loose, get corroded, and break connections. I have had a few twist connectors get corroded, but never come loose. They don't look as clean, and they take up a little more space, but they work. Black tape and zip ties are your friends.