what would cause the tail lights and brake lights to go completely out and how do i fix it?

1990 TOYOTA TERCEL
1,350,000 MILES
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ALLFIREDUPLADY
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all tail lights and brake lights went out and will not come back on. Right before that happened the battery and charger idiots lights would flicker but go off when the car was put into neutral. We just replaced the battery and the alternator. We replaced the fuses for the tail lights and the tail light relay switch. What else can it be??????
Nov 25, 2011 at 5:29 PM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Check for loose connections if you just replaced the parts. Check ground from battery to engine.
Nov 25, 2011 at 5:37 PM
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ALLFIREDUPLADY
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could the new relay switch be bad? also one other thing: One of the lenses for the turn signal in the front is broken. My boyfriend washed my car and got water in there. Now the lights were fine immediately after it got washed but could that have caused a short and if so how do I fix it?
Nov 25, 2011 at 7:14 PM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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yes, it could have shorted. Also, you can get new parts that are bad. I get them all the time. It is very frustrating. Check to make sure the connections are good and check the fuses under the dash and under the hood.
Nov 25, 2011 at 7:20 PM
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ALLFIREDUPLADY
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So you are telling me that besides the fuses under the dash, there is also one under the hood
Nov 25, 2011 at 8:40 PM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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I believe there is one there too.
Nov 25, 2011 at 8:59 PM
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ALLFIREDUPLADY
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and if it shorted out, how do i fix it? I have to have a car, its extremely important right now
Nov 25, 2011 at 9:11 PM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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  • 110,248 POSTS
It should have blown a fuse.
Nov 25, 2011 at 9:17 PM
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