Hey all
so after a week long hastle with my Ariel being stuck up and draining my battery. I cut the two power cables going to it. I tried jump starting the car but it was too far gone. So charged the battery and she started again. HOWEVER, I now have no rear lights at all. No tail lights. No break lights. No side rear lights. I’ve replaced all of my fuses and still no luck. Any help would be much appreciated
1986 Pontiac firebird

 

Hi Scouter,

What kind of car are we talkin here? Is it a 1982 through 1992 Chevy Camaro or Pontiac Firebird?

When lookin for help , , , , specifics matter....

 

86 firebird

 

Ok, now that we got that out of the way, where, exactly were these two "power cables" you say you cut?

A power antenna does have two cables running to it, one that is the actual antenna signal feed into the radio, and the other (the only actual "power cable") has three smallish wires in it.

And none of that is electrically involved whatsoever with all of the lights at the back of the car.

U 100% sure the lights worked before ya cut the antenna wires?

 

I am having the exact same issue as OP. Bought an 86 firebird about a month ago and went and replaced all rear bulbs and fuses today. No lights on the back, including the third brake light, are working. I cannot verify last time these lights worked, originally assumed a fuse was blown.

 

Leaving aside the issue of power antennae ("aerials") and DYKES (cutting wires):

Find the "Fisher Body" connector under the driver's footwell carpet, about directly below the clutch pedal in a stick car when fully up. When the "body" (shell not including doors, fenders, quarter panels, engine, interior, etc.) is built at the body plant and later delivered as such to the vehicle assembly plant, the body plant had installed a wiring harness within the body that connects ALL that stuff, never to be disturbed again, that starts up there, kinda under the dash except about a foot or so from the dash proper. Has about 12 - 16 wires in it depending on the vehicle. The vehicle's dash harness includes a pigtail that the assemblers at the vehicle assy plant will then plug into the body connector as "the car" goes down the assembly line. This connector is of a very different type and design from ANY OTHER connector in the car. It's probably unplugged or damaged or something. Find it and inspect it, no doubt the problem will be somewhat obvious.

 

Would having the trunk motor completely disconnected at the moment have anything to do with no rear lights working?

 

No

 

Being the beginner I am, I failed to notice the final ground wire not being connected. Put that back in place and now all the rear lights work. .

 

I’ll have a look for that. Might be a mission because it’s be converted to right hand drive from canda to Australia