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m38 tail light wires
Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 2:15 pm
by usmcdad
I have just installed a M38 left side rear tailight, along with a new wiring harness, and not having an old tail light to cook book off of, I am wondering if someone could give me a hand with the tail light wire ID. Naturally, there was no diagram with the new light. The little metal tags on the wires are marked 24, 23, and 22. I imagine there is a power, stop, and ground sequence but I was mentally injured trying to hook up some trailer wiring not long ago and haven't recovered yet. Any help will be appreciated.
Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 2:30 pm
by Cacti_Ken
Maybe this will help you.
Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 8:47 pm
by wesk
From what you posted I believe you describe installing a new harness and a new left side rear lamp assembly on the left side of the jeep.
If this is true there should be no issues to deal with. Just match the 3 numbers on the lamp pigtails with the same 3 numbers in your harness.
If you mean you are adding a new left lamp assembly to the right side so you can have two red brake lamps then that is an entirely different issue.
Are you also adding turn signals? If yes are you using the early or late system?
I really don't want to offer any advice on any wiring question without it be very clear what is being done.
This illustration shows the normal functions of each bulb in each rear lamp:
M38 tail light wires
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 12:57 pm
by usmcdad
Outstanding. Thanks for the help. I knew I was in trouble when I stepped on the brakes and the horn honked
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 11:22 pm
by wesk
Are you also adding turn signals? If yes are you using the early or late system?
So, are you adding turn signals or not? Are you in fact adding a new 3 lamp left assy to the right side?
I have some diagrams to help with these but you should let us know what you are doing.
Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2018 5:23 pm
by Tembek
Cacti_Ken wrote:Maybe this will help you.
Wow this diagram was really helpful. I had the one from the manual but this one with the colors and descriptions really answered a lot of questions for me.
Thanks for posting it.
Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2018 5:45 pm
by wesk
Be carefull. That is a privately penned color line drawing representing a late M38 minus circuit breakers and using only the late one plug light switch.
It is simple to just take the correct for your M38 diagram from the manual and color wires which just makes them a wee bit easier to trace in the diagram but keep in mind the military used all black or all white wiring harness using numbers for circuit ID not colors.