Tail lights

I have a 1999 Express 3500, extended 15 seater. I'm having a lot of trouble with the tail lights. Bulbs are all fine. Signals flash too fast, when the brakes are applied ,all the lights go out except for the back-up lights, which come on. I check all the bulbs and they are fine when I put them back in. A couple days later more problems occur. This is driving me nuts. Is there a harness ground or something that could be bad? I'm not impressed with the type of socket being used for the bulbs, is there a newer replacement socket I can use?

 

Thanks for any help.

i have an 01 and the dealer here had run a jumper ground wire for the brake bulb outside of the lens to a ground point. after i removed it i have intermittent problems like yours. so i am going to put the wire back. passenger side by the way

quote:

ORIGINAL: vinster888

i have an 01 and the dealer here had run a jumper ground wire for the brake bulb outside of the lens to a ground point. after i removed it i have intermittent problems like yours. so i am going to put the wire back. passenger side by the way

Not a very impressive fix by the dealer ... but it seems to work.

I had the same problem and fixed it the same way.  I am having problems with my back up lights.  I have a  99 s-10 and the back up lights won't come on when I throw it in reverse.  Any help?
 
 

quote:

ORIGINAL: vinster888

i have an 01 and the dealer here had run a jumper ground wire for the brake bulb outside of the lens to a ground point. after i removed it i have intermittent problems like yours. so i am going to put the wire back. passenger side by the way

 
That sounds a little out of the usual. Is there no other way to solve that problem concerning the taillights?

The problem is caused by a poor ground wire connection. Where this is is the tough part. Easy cure is to add a ground wire (common wire to all lights) from the light cluster to the van body.