My right blinker started to blink fast indicating bulb out but in addition to right rear blinker out, so to is top right rear extra brake light, regular right rear brake light and right rear reverse light, only right rear tail light works. I did install a backup camera on the license plate and powered it from the right rear reverse light wire per the instructions about 2 years ago. The backup camera works just fine though, comes on only in reverse gear and shows the picture as it always has. Just one other clue is that just under the hood on the ledge running along the firewall at far most right and left sides I had some ice build up. This day my wipers turned on, went vertical and froze in vertical position. When I opened the hood, that is when I found the two ice piles at each side of ledge. I'm not positive both these instances (wipers and lights) happened the same day, just know that there was enough water under hood to freeze wipers. Wipers did work just fine again after thawed out. First question is: since more than one light is out, it is not the blinker bulb, correct? second, would BU camera still work if "quick" connect broke or shorted reverse light/blinker power wire? Any ideas appreciated... thank you

 

The first thing to consider is "GET RID OF THAT QUICK CONNECTION AND MAKE A REGULAR SPLICE". They are cheap quick connections that don't last and are open to corrosion from any high humidity. Can also cut the wire.

Don't forget, power to a component is only half the circuit, the other half is the ground available. One way to quickly verify if ground is the problem is to temporarily run a piece of wire from a good clean ground to the ground of the non-functioning component. If it is a ground problem, the component will work as it is expected to work.

 

Thank you for quick reply. I will replace the quick connect and try the ground test.

 

Funny story about grounds. I installed an aftermarket cruise control on my 97 E250. I could not get it to work for the life of me. I checked continuity between the negative batt cable and the body and there was NONE. Even though the ground wire to the body was intact. I made a new one and the cruise worked great.

 

Bad grounds can cause many gremlins. I was changing fluids and in advertantly bumped/ moved the chassis ground strap from the body to frame. It just crumbled from corrosion. This caused many issues and dash lights. The fuel pump would shut off when I put van in drive. I replaced the ground strap and all those issues went away. I have since, inspected or replaced all ground point when I come across them.