License Plate Lights
- Thread starter ehendrix
- Start date
Fill in the vehicle info on the left, so we know what you're driving.
If there is a short, it would blow a fuse. Have you checked the rear fuse block?
If there is a short, it would blow a fuse. Have you checked the rear fuse block?
So, we'll make the assumption your driving a Trailblazer/Envoy type of truck.
The plate lights share a fuse with the left rear tail light, fuse # 14 in rear fuse panel.
If the fuse is good (and the LR tail works), and the lamps are good, you probably have a broken wire in the gate wiring harness.
You'll need a meter. Turn on the park lights and check for 12v at the plate sockets. No 12v, the wire colour is brown.
If you have 12v, test the ground. No ground, the wire colour is black.
What condition is the inside of the sockets, if dirty and corroded, you probably need new sockets.
The plate lights share a fuse with the left rear tail light, fuse # 14 in rear fuse panel.
If the fuse is good (and the LR tail works), and the lamps are good, you probably have a broken wire in the gate wiring harness.
You'll need a meter. Turn on the park lights and check for 12v at the plate sockets. No 12v, the wire colour is brown.
If you have 12v, test the ground. No ground, the wire colour is black.
What condition is the inside of the sockets, if dirty and corroded, you probably need new sockets.
The rear sockets tend to go bad on these which requires a new harness. It is a very small harness indeed and not too bad to replace. I had to renew mine 2 yrs.ago and iirc the cost was $70.00 at the dealer. Part #15271206. I tried finding just the new sockets to splice in but could not find that exact style anywhere? even tried a specialty business so I was forced to buy the new harness which resides inside the rear hatch.
They may very well be bad, but I buy nothing on someone's guess, I need to see the proof. That's just the way I am.moneypit said:Oh they're bad..you can bet on thatbeen there/done that. and I spent a week trying to find simple sockets to replace them..nope. All this so I could pass the safety inspection.
Here comes the part where you will hate me. lol. I had one of mine get water in it and the pins corroded off. What I noticed was that the bulb was the EXACT same size as the little turn signal bulb that is on the outer area of the front lamp assembly on my Envoy. The only difference was that the actual plug was deeper which didn't make any difference. When I did my HID retrofit project I bought a brand new set of headlights from rockauto.com and they came with the little side marker bulb socket and a bulb in it with about a foot of wire extending from the plug. I removed my liftgate cover and then unscrewed the 5? (idk how many little nuts hold it in, I think its 4 or 5, something like that) bolts that hold the licence plate piece in place. Then I had disconnected the handle from the latch mechanism and slightly closed my lift gate but not enough so it would latch shut. I pulled the licence plate piece out and disconnected the two bulb sockets from the adapter and set the licence plate piece aside. Then I got my o-scope and tested the polarity of the wire (not a big deal but I am big into doing things the right way) of my faulty plug and then I cut the old one out. Then I shortened down the wires that came off my aftermarket adapter and soldered/heat shrunk the OEM wire and aftermarket wire together for each side. Then I brought the licence plate piece over and screwed in both of the lamp assembly's and connected the handle to the latch mechanism and then bolted it back together. The depth is not an issue because there isn't anything up there blocking it so idk why they made them so shallow but its useless.
What I'd say to any future members that have this problem, go to a junk yard and look for an envoy and take off the front headlight assembly and bring wire cutters with you and snip off the little outer marker light and buy it. There are 2 of them, one per side so if both of yours are dead just snip off two of them and call it a day.
What I'd say to any future members that have this problem, go to a junk yard and look for an envoy and take off the front headlight assembly and bring wire cutters with you and snip off the little outer marker light and buy it. There are 2 of them, one per side so if both of yours are dead just snip off two of them and call it a day.
I know this is an old thread. Just posting this in case someone needs o purchase a new license plate bulb socket for their Envoy and come across this thread, but doesn't want to purchase the entire harness.. The bulb socket AC Delco part # is LS44. It comes with the socket and about 5 inches of wire already attached.
GM Original Equipment alternate OEM p[art numbers are: 12141388, 15305803, 88986416, LS82
Good Luck!
GM Original Equipment alternate OEM p[art numbers are: 12141388, 15305803, 88986416, LS82
Good Luck!
