Light that illuminates license plate. Previous owner cut wires going to lights for license plate. Replaced with aftermarket led light to existing wires. This worked untill I shorted the LED by not ins

The license plate lamps are designed to illuminate the plate and registration tags on your vehicle and make it easily visible to law enforcement. In many states, a burnt out license plate bulb can get you a ticket.
Step 1: Locate the license plate light. The license plate light is located right above the plate.
Step 2: Determine which bulb has failed. Park your vehicle and set the emergency brake. Turn the ignition to the Accessory position and turn on the driving lights. Walk around the vehicle to determine which license plate bulb has failed.
Step 3: Remove the license plate light cover. Remove the license plate light cover retaining screws using a screwdriver.
Remove the license plate light cover.

• Note: You may need to use a small screwdriver to pry the cover off.

Step 4: Remove the bulb. Remove the bulb from its retainer.
Part 2 of 2: Install the bulb Materials Needed

• Protective gloves
• Replacement license plate light bulb
• Safety glasses
• Screwdriver

Step 1: Install the new bulb. Install the new bulb in its retainer and ensure it is in place.

• Tip: Refer to your car's user manual to determine the correct type of light bulb to get for your specific vehicle.

Step 2: Complete the installation. Put back the license plate light cover and hold it in place.
Install the license plate light cover retaining screws and tighten them using a screwdriver.
Step 3: Check the lights. Turn on your car to check if your license plate lights are fully functional.

Factory side wires:
Orange is constant 12 volts
yellow is switched 12 volts
Black Ground
Gray Illumination
Brown Dimmer
Tan LF +
Gray LF-
Lt Grn RF+
Drk Grn RF-
Brown LR+
Yellow LR-
Lt Blue RR+
Drk Blue RR-
The aftermarket reverse harness should be mrked I hope that helps

Which fuse belong to license plate light or which number ...

www.fixya.com/cars/t10801433-fuse_belong_license_plate_light_or

Nov 11, 2011 - The licence plate lights are in the same line as your tail light wiring assembly. I assume your ... Previous owner cut wires going to lights for license plate. ... 1996 ford explorer license plate fuse ... 09@1998 ford f150 fuse box.

1997 Ford license plate lights are not working. - Ford Explorer ...

www.explorerforum.com > ... > Performance Lighting

Mar 13, 2011 - 5 posts - ‎4 authors
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Do the park lamps work ? license plate lights get power from same fuse ! Check ground wire ! use a volt meter an do voltage drop test ! Voltage Drop Testing The fuse for the license plate lights is in the under hood fuse box -engine compartment ! fuse #12 RT PRK LAMP 10Amp .

could have poor ground wire use 12 volt test light check probe socket positive wire could be grey green wires and touch ground if test light works you have bad ground to license plate lights.and license plates lights have fuse control circuit.

Sounds like either your wiring from the Light switch is bad or the Light switch itself is bad. Check with your Owners manual to see if the "Parking lights" have a separate fuse.

Your tail and License plate lights would light with either the Headlights or the "Parking" light selected at the switch as would the front parking lights. If all lights except the headlights are out, your problem is closer to the light switch than at the mounting points of each Parking light or License plate light.

This is one case where you will not know if a dead wire off of the switch is dead because of a bad switch or a bad wire. You would have to detach the harness at the switch, test the wire bundle or jump the switch with power to see how it distributes power through the Harness. It will take a lot of time to rule out the switch. It may be cheaper to replace the switch and then work from there.

They are tied to the entire running/parking lamp circuit. I suspect a broken wire or a bad ground. Inspect the harness up where the liftgate hinges are for damage, Peel the wrap off and wiggle the wires and see if plate lamps flicker.
Or, pull the inside liftgate panel off as needed to see the wire colors. Using a test light, work your way up the harness on those color wires until you find power. You may find the lamp sockets are burnt and crispy.
Or, go get an aftermarket LED light(white light) and wire it into the running lamp circuit.
Hope this helps.

the light can be replaced from the back side of the light housing . go under the back side of bumper under the truck behind lisence plate you will see the where the wire goes to the light . grab the housing not the wires and twist about a half a turn and pull gently. it should come out and then remove the light bulb and replace with new

try looking at the wiring from the light and fallow it back to the fuse, sounds like a short in the wires if not change you fuse, you can find it by looking in your owners manual,

Sounds like you may have a wiring issue. I would cut the wires at the tag lamps, leaving enough to splice in new ones. Then pull one of your tail light assemblies out and, using a test light which is available from most parts stores for $5-10, figure out which wire is hot with the parking lights on. Splice a wire from there to your tag lamp socket. Then splice the other wire to the ground circuit at the tail lamp or find a good ground to wrap it around somewhere else (usually just about anything metal). Just find a bolt somewhere, back it out a bit and stick some of the stripped wire behind it at tighten it back up.