First Gen tail lights

I'm struggling to chase wires on my right tail light. I have 7 volts on the right, 12 on the left. When I unplug the right assembly the left drops to 7 and I loose the right license plate light. Am I missing something obvious?

 

Check and clean all of the grounds: even ones which would seem to have no relation to a tail-lamp. Classic symptom of a bad/corroded one somewhere. Maybe a rusty one or a broken wire. They can cause a lot of strange issues.

Add some pics of your truck when you get a chance.... We like Pics!

Welcome to TacomaWorld!

 

I chased it last night for a couple hours and got no where. Basically all the wires near the rear bumper came out. I'll remove and clean all the grounds I can find. Would the trailer lights mess with it?

 

Very possible. Is it factory or aftermarket wiring?

 

I'm guessing after market. It is apart of the tail light assemblies but it looks like terrible craftsmanship. I did test the trailer plug but I don't remember what it read.

 

I would remove the trailer harness especially if it looks like a poor installation. I have seen trailer wiring harnesses cause all kinds of gremlins.

 

They can: Do the truck tail lamp problems only occur when the trailer is plugged into the truck connector? If so, check all of the wires and grounds on the trailer as well. Sometimes, if the trailer plug on the truck is seldom used, it can get corroded a bit just from sitting. Try plugging it in/removing it a few times and see if the problem goes away, or clean it with a small wire brush, (lights OFF!!) and put a little dab of bulb grease on the terminals.

 

I just bought it a Friday. The aftermarket receiver doesn't look used at all. I have yet to put a trailer behind it.

 

I suspect the trailer harness is going to be your issue.

 

I hope that's it

 

Good: That should eliminate the trailer wiring as the source of the problems and isolate the issue(s) to the truck as there is nothing connected to the trailer
harness/plug.