Help, have been having intermittent problems since installing new taillight package (black trim version) NOW, have to jump the car to start it. This started following two days of heavy rain and floor of trunk is damp. My bulb failure light is always on ... and has been since installing taillights. The "not being able to start" is just since the rains. Any advice welcome ...

Ken is correct, it has to be two problems occurring together.

If the battery is not at fault, and your time for fault-tracing is limited, you might do as I did and slightly loosen the battery ground cable lug and pull it off for overnight. In the morning pop the hood and push/twist the lug back on. If possible, listen for a relay closing when you make that connection - may be a clue to what's using power when it shouldn't.

Yes, you will loose radio presets, but it is a way to keep going for a bit until time for the detective work is available. One of the two relays in the power door locks can stick. Listen (have a helper) at the center dash air vents for a click when the cable is connected.

Tail lights are notorious for leaking. It's usually where the lenses attach to the lamp assembly. Look at the path the rain run-off follows: Down the rear window, collects in the trunk seal groove, washes on down to splash onto the top of the backup light and other lenses.

Check by (1) Push the car side-to-side and see if any liquid sloshes inside a lens, or (2) pull a bulb holder - I check the right side backup light - and look inside there or stick a finger in there.

Many bricksters have drilled a drain hole in the lenses that leak. Use a 1/16-inch drill and put the hole in the lower outside corner.

Good Luck,

Bob

:>)

Although they're coincidental, they (battery drain and taillight problems) have to be two separate problems.

No matter how bad your taillight problems are, they can't possibly affect battery drain (assuming you're talking about your battery going dead overnight, or whenever your car is parked), because when you turn off your light switch, no electrical current can go to the taillights (where there might be a short). There just isn't any way! It's not like your radio's memory presets, or your ECU's OBD memory, which always have a hot feed.

Coincidences do happen (sometimes) :-).

Regards,

battery drain occurred twice on Friday. Saturday morning started up fine, no problems. Today ... need to jump it to start it. Welcoming any ideas

Water may be getting into the taillight assembly and creating an electrically conductive pathway to drain your battery. Interesting how it has not blown your fuse... Make sure the taillight assembly has no water inside and assembly is bolted tight to create a water-tight seal. I use lithium grease on the trunk perimeter to prevent water from getting in and freeze-locking it in the winter.
--
Michel Garcia - 1986 240 B230F & 1982 240 B21A - Ottawa, Canada

Thanks I will check the water leakage in the assembly. I checked all the fuses this morning and they are fine. How owuld one get the moisture out of the assembly?