2006 Chevy Express Short circuit in the backup lights of 06

FAWIEN

MEMBER
2006 CHEVROLET EXPRESS
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
46,000 MILES

When I got this van the dome lights in the cab and cargo area did not work. After alot of research I found the problem was the TCB2 fuse in the box under the hood was blown. I replaced that fuse and the interior and cargo lights worked fine. As soon as I put the van in reverse the fuse popped again.

As far as I can figure out the interior lights and the backup lights run off the same fuse under the hood. It would seem to make sense that somehting in the backup light wiring is shorting the fuse out.

I tracked the wiring harness back through the cargo area to the drivers side rear pillar. The wire harness splits off to go down the pillar to power that driver side brake light assembly. On one of those harnesses I can see where someone has spliced a light green wire and added another wire that is running down inside the pillar to a unknown location. The wire is tight and I cant see what it is going to.

It doesnt look like it was done very well. The light green wire had been burned to slide the insulation back exposing the wire. Look to be they then wrapped the blue wire around the exposed green wire and taped it off. I have read in some cases that adding a new ground to the rear tail lights helped fix a problem with those lights. I dont know if that is the case here or if someone wired in something extra off that wire that is now faulting.

Any help or ideas if Im looking in the right place or not would be appreciated.

2 Replies

FAWIEN

MEMBER
2 POSTS

So I went and got some more 15A fuses so I could do some more testing on the TCB2 fuse. Put in a new one all the lights worked again and then tossed it in reverse and watched as the dome lights dimmed and then went out. Of course the fuse blew again.

I went and cut that wire I talked about before that was jumped off of the light green wire. Taped it up good and replaced the fuse. Dome lights came on again and I tossed it in reverse and. The lights didnt go out this time.

Upon initial inspection all the lights seem to be functioning properly for now. I will retest when its dark since Im by myself so I can see all the lights better.

I did put it in reverse mulitple times and not a single fuse popped so Im assuming whatever they wired off the reverse lights was causing it to short out.