HELP TAIL LIGHT PROBLEM 03' Coupe

[MikePips77]

just got back from the infiniti dealer and they told me they have no clue what's wrong and i need to make an appointment with service. really dont want to have to do that but i have problem with my tail lights. they dont go on when i turn my lights on, only headlights, but all the brake and reverse lights work. my assumption was bad ground or blown fuse. i checked all the typical fuses and none appeared burnt or broken. leaving me with the rev lamp relay and the horn relay dealership didnt think it was either. the only cause i can think of was i had to replace my aftermarket radio recently and while wiring the new harness touched two wires by accident and had a spark. figured id blown a fuse to something but nothing stopped working but the tail lights any suggestions?

[Gilley]

There are two fuse boxes. One by the driver's left foot and one next to the battery.

[MikePips77]

yeah i know. i checked the interior and all the fuses looked fine and i checked by the battery as well. the only thing i didnt check tho was the relays cuz i dont think you can check them visually just gotta replace but infiniti didnt think it was either cuz the relays were the REVERSE LAMP RELAY and the HORN RELAY reverse lamps and horns were both good. i saw a diagram for an 06 with more fuses behind the battery itself, i dont wanna take it out to find that the 03 doesnt any ideas?

[Drflipp]

do your ac buttons light up or do they remain off? If they don't light up then it's a fuse that is behind the battery. I had a similar problem where my headlights worked but my tail lights, ballasts lights and ac lights didn't work. Turned out to be a blown fuse that was in the fuse box behind the battery. Hope this helps.

[thatguy]

Originally Posted by MikePips77

yeah i know. i checked the interior and all the fuses looked fine and i checked by the battery as well. the only thing i didnt check tho was the relays cuz i dont think you can check them visually just gotta replace but infiniti didnt think it was either cuz the relays were the REVERSE LAMP RELAY and the HORN RELAY reverse lamps and horns were both good. i saw a diagram for an 06 with more fuses behind the battery itself, i dont wanna take it out to find that the 03 doesnt any ideas?

Fuses can "look Fine" but still be blown. Chased a problem for hours after "looking" at a fuse, ended up being the fuse. You need to verify they are good with a meter or test light or something similiar that you have.

You can check the relay. Pull it out of the socket and usually there will be a diagram showing what terminals are what. Usually says what voltage they are rated for but we are going to assume 12 vdc. On the diagram there will be a symbol for a coil drawn between 2 of the pins. Apply battery voltage to these terminal and you should hear and feel a clicking noise. If you have an ohmeter you can check the resistance of the closed contacts at this point, closed should be less than 1ohm open should read off the scale of the meter.

***Be careful not to apply battery voltage across any closed contacts (wrong pins) you will short out the battery and get a healthy spark. If you have any battery powered tools you can use that for your battery. Anything from 9v to 14.4 should be fine.

Hope that helps.

[blanks123]

which fuse would it be thought any ideas i am having same problem.....

[Darknight968]

anyone have a problem with popping the tail lamp fuse? my fuse was blown yesterday but my cd player worked. now it doesnt work and fuse keeps popping.

[Darknight968]

please help instrument panel wont light up nor will my radio