Hey folks

I've got a 2001 Park Ave Ultra, with a bit of a lighting issue in the rear.

I've got no license lamps and no right side parking lamp.
They were working just earlier today.. in fact I just changed those license plate lamps last month... bulbs didn't blow, but I threw new ones in just now just because.

Checked fuses under the hood, all looks OK.


Does it sound like perhaps there is a ground issue? The turn signals, brake lights (both), reverse lights, and left side park light work just fine!

I'm expecting to get this car inspected on Friday and this is bugging me out!

Thanks for any hints or points in the right direction.. have minimal tools here.. not even a test light. moved a while ago and my power-probe/tool-box/et.al. is stored 60 miles away!

Your license plate bulbs have the same power and ground as your tail lamps......so if the tail lamps light, your power and ground, is ok....recheck your bulbs, along with the side marker bulb....could be bad sockets, or wiring, if bulbs are ok.....

it is true, they all share the same ground point. but there are several connections going to that point. i would check it anyway. if you pull back the passenger side carpet near the trunk hinge, there is a 10mm bolt with 3 ground wires going to it. if this isnt the problem, id trace the wires to where they connect. (i believe the junction point is in the right side of the trunk near the back of the seat behind the carpet, if i remember correctly.)

thanks for the info so far guys, appreciate that awesome diagram. I once had access to Mitchell but the guy retired..

Reading this diagram I'm seeing that I might be wrong with what I thought was actually working.. seems more tail lights are out


The Left Tail/Stop lamp is working for tails and stops. The Right Tail/Stop lamp is working actually, for Stop only. Nothing else back there illuminates for tail lights, but signals work.

I see they call the others Tail/Turn on left and right, and those do nothing but turn signal right now.

Started raining just after I posted this... maybe in a few I'll go brave the rain.. sucks not having a garage anymore GRR

trunk is big enough, you could climb in. just remember to bring the remote and have someone within ear shot. haha. i know this sounds basic, but did you check the bulb sockets for corrosion? might be worth checking at least.

curious why you mentioned the side marker bulb... just so happens the driver'* side side marker bulb on the rear bumper went out a few days ago. are you thinking it may be shorting something?

Can't seem to edit my last post but I just went out there and I'm soaked. lol damn rain. I just buttoned up all the nuts holding the lights on and it'll be good for daytime driving, have to revisit this tomorrow I guess.

So now I noticed... both side markers out on the rear also.

Bulb sockets don't seem to have any corrosion, bright copper colored in there with no hint of green.

The first bulb I noticed which was the right park light, did indeed have a blown bulb (black colored glass with a broken filament inside)

Kind of irks me that the right side park lamp does function as a Brake lamp only, even with new bulb. a new bulb is supposed to fix this issue!!! lol, at least it always had on every other car I've had in the past !

are you absolutely sure you have the right bulbs? they make a bulb for that socket that isnt dual filament.

i have got the right dual filament bulb but put it in wrong before as well as had corrosion in it so it was working before i messed with it and then it didnt after. hard to tell without at least a test light