Hi! Anyone feeling like helping me out?
I have a Mazda Protege '94 with lighting problems.
Driver's side tail light doesn't work,
driver's side exterior running light also MIA,
however, driver's side brake light, signal, both AOK!
Driver's side license plate light MIA.
I already replaced fuses and bulbs.
Any suggestions?

Also, dash lights out, except for turn signals, and hazards.

 

Hi.
It sounds like there's a connector plug problem somewhere.
Take a look behind the fuse boxes. Also trace the wiring route for damage
and connector blocks,especially those exposed to the elements.

There are normally 2 fuse boxes,one inside under the dash,the other under the bonnet (hood).

Previous accident damage can affect wiring.

I normally find it's one problem,not several, in cases like this.

Happy hunting!
N.

 

Did this happen suddenly, a result of an accident, or was it a "progressive deterioration" ?
Why did you replace fuses ? Did you perform a continuity check to determine if they NEEDED to be replaced ? (Ditto for the bulbs). Visual checking is not reliable.

If you have a short circuit somewhere, any fuse you replaced because it had blown will probably be blown again.

The info you supplied is not much help, but it suggests you should get hold of a continuity checker/ multimeter attached to some expert help.

By the way, a fairly common cause for "all hell let loose all over the place" is a defective light stalk switch on the steering column.
Sometimes (but not always) a good dose of contact cleaner into the guts of it will get some or all of the circuits working at least long enough to confirm if it's the culprit.