O.K., trying to add aftermarket backup lights to an 03. I had pulled the tailight assembly out and removed the bulb to try and find which wire was the feed. Lamp ind. light came on. Found the purple w/ black tracer wire and think that is the back up light feed wire. Using a "tap", I spliced into the wire just before it entered the trailer plug. After hooking everything back up, I get a flashing Lamp ind. light. I decide to disconnect everything and still have Lamp ind flashing. I tried disconnecting the batteries far a few seconds...

Any ideas?

Doug

 

The Lamp Out indicator on the instrument panel only checks the:
1. Headlights
2. Turn signals
3. Brake lamps (except high mount).

You either have a coincidence going or somehow you cut a wire to one of those bulbs.

I'll look up the 2004 wire color for the backup lamps in a moment.......

 

On a 2004 it's the White wire with a Light Green stripe for the backup lamps.

I didn't go out and look at my truck but I'm 98% sure the center lug on the factory trailer tow connector is wired for the backup lamps.

 

Thanks for the reply. You're right, I noticed on the way home that I had no brake light on the driver's side. I'll investigate further tomorrow. The back up lights work like they should, but I'll double check the color as well.

Doug

 

Great! I went through the manual looking for a purple wire with black stripe and couldn't find one. I don't know why they change wire colors from year to year. I guess it keeps the shop manual makers in business.

 

I ran across a service manual for the '03s and it had it marked as violet/black. Anyways, what a coincidence, the time i decide to pull the tailight assembly it decides to blow a bulb.

Whodathunkit? I guess it went into the secret "in the shop mode" where things spontaneously break or go bad.

Thanks again,

Doug

 

Incandesent lights are like that. They will be fine for ages until their environment changes then ZAP!. I once saw a light bulb in a firehouse which had been lit for 40 years and never turned off. They were afraid to turn it off. AFAIK it is still working.

Edwin