Hi Guys,

I have an unusual problem with my trunk light that I hope someone can help me to solve.

As you can probably guess, the trunk light does not come on when I open the trunk. I've checked the fuses, and I have +12v in the bulb socket but no ground. Using the articles already published in this forum, I checked the instrument cluster and it does indicate when the trunk is open... so I also know that the trunk latch switch is good and is sending a ground signal to the front of the car.

So, I'm guessing that there must be a broken wire or connection between the trunk latch switch and the bulb, but at or downstream of where the connection to the dashboard is spliced in.

Does anyone have any ideas on where to look?

Thanks in advance!

 

Are you checking the socket's ground directly or the wiring coming to the socket? Socket could be busted/loose

 

I checked the voltages at the plug that inserts into the lamp. Same thing: 12v on one leg and nothing on the other. Doesn't feel like the wire is broken anywhere near the plug, and the light does not come on when I bend it around.

 

If you're getting 12V use the socket ground to check continuity.
i imagine you used another ground source to check 12v?
Have you tried replacing the bulb?

 

I grounded my meter to the trunk latch loop to test the 12v and to test for continuity on the ground. Got 12v on the positive wire but no continuity on the ground wire.

I did replace the bulb and it still did not light, that's what I discovered first. Tried several different bulbs with no luck.

The previous owner replaced the rear shocks, and so I'm suspecting that the wiring or a plug may have been damaged in the process. I'm just hoping that I can figure this out without removing the rear seat and deck cover.

 

Maybe make a new ground if you can't trace the wire.
It's a tight area I can't remember where that wire leads from one of my stripped TL...

 

OP, the light grounds through the Trunk Latch switch (at least it does on the 04TL). So if the trunk latch switch works normally, then I'd assume you have a break somewhere between the latch switch and the light. If your TL is not an 04, I can't offer anything else other that to say that I highly doubt that a rear shock change caused this.