The license plate light and reverse lights are not working?

Tiny
KILAMAJARO77
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 BUICK LESABRE
  • 3.8L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 83,000 MILES
I have no license plate light nor reverse lights. I've checked all the bulbs, they're good, all the fuses their good. I've checked the wiring harness on the connection from the wiring harness from the fuse box under the seat to the harness to the panel on the truck and I have power to all wires except the green wire coming from the fuse box. I'm lost, I don't know what else to do. Can you help please?
Thursday, October 10th, 2024 AT 2:49 PM

16 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 50,492 POSTS
We need to see if we have power at the DMR fuse and to see if the fuse is good, this guide can help. The fuse is in the rear fuse panel.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.
Image (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, October 10th, 2024 AT 4:07 PM
Tiny
KILAMAJARO77
  • MEMBER
  • 19 POSTS
I'll check back with you guys tomorrow or if you want to reach out through e-mail. Thanks so much.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, October 10th, 2024 AT 4:09 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 50,492 POSTS
Sounds good.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, October 10th, 2024 AT 4:09 PM
Tiny
KILAMAJARO77
  • MEMBER
  • 19 POSTS
Okay, thanks.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, October 10th, 2024 AT 4:19 PM
Tiny
KILAMAJARO77
  • MEMBER
  • 19 POSTS
Morning Guys, any solution on my situation?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, October 11th, 2024 AT 9:22 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 50,492 POSTS
Do we have power at the DMR fuse?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, October 11th, 2024 AT 10:43 AM
Tiny
KILAMAJARO77
  • MEMBER
  • 19 POSTS
What is the DMR fuse and where is it located?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, October 11th, 2024 AT 2:55 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 50,492 POSTS
It is int he fuse panel, please revisit my first post. It shows the location.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, October 13th, 2024 AT 8:31 AM
Tiny
KILAMAJARO77
  • MEMBER
  • 19 POSTS
Okay, I'll check that fuse but first the Packer game. Thx. I'll let you know what I find out.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, October 13th, 2024 AT 10:05 AM
Tiny
KILAMAJARO77
  • MEMBER
  • 19 POSTS
Hi Ken, Sorry for the delay. I had cataract surgery on Monday. Needed a day to recoup. I checked fuse # 14 and it was good. Any suggestions?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, October 15th, 2024 AT 2:11 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 50,492 POSTS
Go Packers! No worries, it sounds like the ground is bad, with the running lights on please use a test light to test for power (yellow) and then ground (black). Let's see which one is missing.

These guides can help:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-test-light-circuit-tester

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/no-tail-lights-exterior-running-lights-tail-lights-out

Please go over these guides and get back to us.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, October 16th, 2024 AT 10:22 AM
Tiny
KILAMAJARO77
  • MEMBER
  • 19 POSTS
Hi Ken,

How are you doing? I checked the yellow wire. I have power. I don't have power on the black and green wire, but I have power on the purple wire and the white and black color wire. I'm assuming that black is ground, right? And green is part of the whole circuit along with the other wires for the license plate, reverse, running lights on the trunk panel. So why isn't the green wire hot. I've checked 3 ft from the connection and still nothing.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, October 21st, 2024 AT 12:38 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 50,492 POSTS
So is the ground good? Here are the wiring diagrams for the reverse lights and the license please lights as well so you can see how the system works. Simply check the power and ground to see where you lose them. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.
Images (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024 AT 10:10 AM
Tiny
KILAMAJARO77
  • MEMBER
  • 19 POSTS
Hi Ken, so it was the ground connection inside the connection coming from the main harness. It was broken somehow. I made my own and sodered it back on the wire pushed it back in the connection and bamm it worked so thx for the info and time. Norb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, November 14th, 2024 AT 1:21 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 50,492 POSTS
Glad you could get it fixed, thanks for letting us know. Please use 2CarPros anytime we are here to help.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Friday, November 15th, 2024 AT 9:25 AM
Tiny
KILAMAJARO77
  • MEMBER
  • 19 POSTS
Your welcome. I will.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, November 15th, 2024 AT 11:13 AM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related License Plate Light Fuse Content

VIEW MORE