head and tail lights work but not the running lights. suggestions?

 

Jeff isnt the headlight and taillight circuit connected directly to constant power through the switch. I think GM did this as a safety feature. that may be why you are at least getting those lights to work. what have you checked already, did you try swapping out the headlight switch, maybe the contact in it is bad. also, im not sure how much work you have already done to the wiring on the car but have you confimed there is no power going to any of the bulbs? Its gotta be either the switch or some inline wire(s) going to the fuse block from the switch. or maybe a simple fuse but Im sure you checked all that already. or maybe a missing ground somewhere. Im sure you have messed with the wiring under the dashes of these cars and GM did a real crappy job at the factory.

 

yes they did... i checked most of the obvious. i have not pulled the switch apart yet but i figured i'd get some quick insight before i bothered to jump into it.

thanks.

 

Im sure you got an extra switch somewhere. If not see if you can jump the wires on the connector for the switch to give them there "juice" If you get nothing from there then its gotta be something else other then the switch. Either a bad ground or a cut in a power wire somewhere. I know what your going through though. I had these same issues with mine when I did my 4th gen dash swap a while back. It was quite frustrating working with GMs mess in there. I ended up putting the stock dash back in later on and I rewired the entire dash area the right way. Simple and to the point but safe. I think I lost 10lbs of weight with unneeded wires. This is where a good meter comes in handy. I ended up buying one after I got into trouble and I am still learning al the tricks with it.