Uh-oh, tail lights won't work, neither will parking lights

[6point0damn2004]

lets see, installing toolbox lights, get all done. I tested one light after I had it in and it lit up once. Tried it again, nothing. So I installed the rest of the lights, thinking I'll take care of it when I'm done. I get done, change the fuse for exterior lights turn the lights on, and it starts to smell hot by the fuse panel, so I turn em off. I replace the fuse and cut the wire for the new lights thinking that is the problem, I turn the lights back on after a new fuse. My roof lights work and my mirror lights work. My headlights work, brake lights, turn signals and brights all work too. ONLY my parking lamps and tailights ar not working. ANY HELP?

Dash lights work, just no parking lights and taillights. Those are the only two

[lkbogger]

I ran into a similar issue with my 97 f-150....Ended up being a blown tailight bulb (the filiment broke and laid across the bulb housing shorting the circuit). I thought it was an interior light problem at first because I the tailights were on the same circuit apparently. So I don't know if this is your problem too but should be easy enough to check all the bulbs on that circuit for shorts...
Good Luck

[symbols]

Something fried in the dash. I bet when you figure out what fried you will find the problem.

[lkbogger]

Something caused a frying in the dash....overloading the circuit or a short. How big were the lights you added? I'm ssuming you didn't run a relay...

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Last edited by lkbogger : 02-18-2009 at 01:37 PM.

[jay diesel]

possibly melted a ground some where

[6point0damn2004]

they are just some small sidemarker lights. 1 on each side of the toolbox and 4 across the back. I retraced my steps and removed anything from the system dealing with the new lights, so everything is back the way it was before i did anything. Still no lights. I checked my fuses they all are good. There still is a slight hot smell and it seems to be coming from the fuse panel itself.

[6point0damn2004]

UPDATE: Still no lights, traced wiring from where I spliced (as much as I could) up towards the fuse panel, no sign of a burnt wire. Check the fuses and wires coming out the back of the fuse panel. Seem to all be fine.

NEW SITUATION has arrose, truck is not charging the batteries, so today when I went to start my truck before work, it took a bit of coaxing. After work, no dice. It would not start, and I hooked a guy I work with car up to it let it sit with his car running and the battery attached for about 15 minutes. Went out and it started right up. So, now I also have to figure this problem out as well.

Going to check the light switch tomorrow (later today depending on how you look at it) and see if it's all good.

If all else fails, it's going in the shop ASAP, cause I am almost at a loss as to what could be the deal.

STILL, any ideas from you guys would be much appreciated