99 Tahoe weird tail light/brake light/hazard light/blinker problem NEED HELP

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beckya99

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I have a '99 Tahoe with a bizarre blinker/brake/tail light issue.

From the beginning:
Fast flash on the right blinker: replaced all bulbs on right rear side - no results. Replaced light assembly on right side & blinker bulb (only) on left side.

Worked perfectly for 3 blocks & problem began again only worse. Turn on the right blinker and the left blinker flashed. Turn on the left blinker and the right side flashed as well as the left side of the license plate. Turn on the head lights and all rear functioning lights become alarmingly dim.

hit the breaks and the turn signal and rear hazard lights come on.

I had recently used my trailer light connector. Years ago it was problematic so I removed it, taped off the ends & double checked grounds.

Next: Replaced the flasher relay. All rear lights appeared to work as designed except fading ~badly~ when head lights were engaged. Tryied again and all worked perfectly and continued to work perfectly for about a month.

Then, while driving at night, I braked & signaled...got a fast flash again. Only this time - I have no tail lights, brake lights or reverse lights but blinkers (dimly) work.

Replaced flasher relay again...I now have brake lights but the flashers are wacked out again and if I turn on the headlights everything goes haywire again.

replaced the mulit function switch. It lasted about 30 days and all problems started again, PLUS the horn stopped working.

tested all wiring to and from lighting assemblies- all good.

removed entire trailer light assempbly and all power up to that point is correct.

Have never blown a fuse

replaced the head light switch (with a used one) and all problems were the same except when pressing the brake the reverse lights came on.

Put the old one back in and back to all the other problems (sans reverse lights).

In between getting the multi function switch replaced and the problem reoccuring, battery had to be replaced and at the same time new tips were put on the cables.

Me, and two mechanics are at a complete loss.

Any ideas?
 

Mimike

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Ground

I know you have heard it here and said you checked it there but I would definately check the rear grounds. I just bought a 96 Tahoe it had the same problem. At the time I bought it I never knew the rear lights didn't work ( No indication from inside I.E. quick flashing ). The wife called me on the way home and told me so... off to the local auto shop I went. I started up front ( Kicking self in the a$$) I took off and cleaned every ground & electrical connection as well applied some dieletric grease for good measure. Everything fine up front ( well so far and only up to the firewall ) So I worked myself into the cab checked every line, fuse, relay replaced most of the brake light electrical system ( Flasher relay, stoplight switch ( FUN FUN ) head light,dimmer,dome light overide box) no problem there. Now I just wasted a few days and a few hundred and still these GD LIGHTS were doing what yours are. Now as I was pouring gas on this P.O.S. O.B.S. and seen these 2 wires hanging but taped ( ODD ) one large white and one small black ( from my experiance or lack there of black is usually the ground ) so why were these two taped together and better yet not blow a fuse. So I went to a generic search engine found this site and found my solution. Both the white and the black were grounds coming from the pigtail installed in the factory. I grounded them out everything was great except that damn stop light switch retaining clip. I would definetly check the grounds one more time (or a switch that may be stuck ) Just one question is it happening to all the lights? When mine wasn't working properly grounding it in the rear fixed the problem. The flasher relay would operate normally ( for the most part ) & the front turn Signals/Running lights always worked great. I hope this helps and If you need to try some good switches I have a few extra LOL!
 

psfr311

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I had the same problem when i had a trailer attached. lights worked fine until i went into reverse. Once i reversed for 10 or more seconds i would blow the fuse. After blowing a couple 15 amp fuses i put a 20 amp fuse in instead and ive never had another problem
 

99boxhead

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new here the problem might be the backing plate for the light might be burnt out, check for any loose bulb when putting them in
 

ArchieWat

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I have a '99 Tahoe with a bizarre blinker/brake/tail light issue.

From the beginning:
Fast flash on the right blinker: replaced all bulbs on right rear side - no results. Replaced light assembly on right side & blinker bulb (only) on left side.

Worked perfectly for 3 blocks & problem began again only worse. Turn on the right blinker and the left blinker flashed. Turn on the left blinker and the right side flashed as well as the left side of the license plate. Turn on the head lights and all rear functioning lights become alarmingly dim.

hit the breaks and the turn signal and rear hazard lights come on.

I had recently used my trailer light connector. Years ago it was problematic so I removed it, taped off the ends & double checked grounds.

Next: Replaced the flasher relay. All rear lights appeared to work as designed except fading ~badly~ when head lights were engaged. Tryied again and all worked perfectly and continued to work perfectly for about a month.

Then, while driving at night, I braked & signaled...got a fast flash again. Only this time - I have no tail lights, brake lights or reverse lights but blinkers (dimly) work.

Replaced flasher relay again...I now have brake lights but the flashers are wacked out again and if I turn on the headlights everything goes haywire again.

replaced the mulit function switch. It lasted about 30 days and all problems started again, PLUS the horn stopped working.

tested all wiring to and from lighting assemblies- all good.

removed entire trailer light assempbly and all power up to that point is correct.

Have never blown a fuse

replaced the head light switch (with a used one) and all problems were the same except when pressing the brake the reverse lights came on.

Put the old one back in and back to all the other problems (sans reverse lights).

In between getting the multi function switch replaced and the problem reoccuring, battery had to be replaced and at the same time new tips were put on the cables.

Me, and two mechanics are at a complete loss.

Any ideas?

I had a problem with my 98 Tahoe where when I turned on the left turn signal it would work fine un less the parking lights were on then it would blink faster and with head lights on whole left side would be dim. ohh yeah and the head lights would flash with the blinker. Well after replacing multi function and head light switch with no change I traced it down to a ground wire under Windshield washer bottle. 15 hours later but a cheap fix. (once I take parts back)
 

Tricky

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All those symtoms are related to the circuit board that the tail light bulbs go into. Had that problem years ago. Side that the bulb is not flashing look at it close and you may see the open circuit in it. It will give hyper flash in the front and like was said when replaced with new bulb it will last for a few blocks and go out. That board from the dealer is between $30-$40, saw some on ebay for $25 a while ago, and most junk yard they ****** them fast. Here are some on ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw...=0&_odkw=tahoe+taillights&_osacat=0&_from=R40
 

Neweradad

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I have the problem with my 2004 Tahoe Z71 5.3 flex fuel when I turn my turn signal on I press the brakes the turn signals don't work but after that if I turn them right or left on it's like I have my hazards flashing but if I reset my headlights switch it goes back to normal until I hit the brakes I've replaced the hazard flasher relay also the turn signal switch still no luck. https://www.instagram.com/p/BE9219ctB4K/
 

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