Taillights engaged starter

20

Asked by justin Dec 12, 2022 at 07:05 PM about the 1998 GMC Sierra 1500 K1500 SL 4WD Extended Cab LB

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

When truck is in neutral and tail lights
are cut on it engages the starter, why is
this, also the fuse for the tail lights
blows pretty often

2 Answers

202,395

You have an electrical short in the steering column between the multi-switch on the left and the ignition on the right. It only reaches the starter motor in Neutral, and I'm sure in Park as well, because that's where the neutral safety switch sends juice t the starter. Fuses blow because you're sending enough juice to start the engine through the lighting circuit.

1 people found this helpful.
307,255

If a fuse blows then you have a circuit problem, this sounds like a cross circuit, I would start in the engine compartment and the first thing I would check is the power distribution box, look underneath for any burnt wiring or even a burnt box. If everything checks good there then it’s time to drag out the wiring diagrams and trace the starter and taillight circuits.

2 people found this helpful.

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