Chrysler Repair: Rear lights not working after collision:LeBaron 92, lebaron convertible, rear quarter panel

Question
Hello, I have a '92 Lebaron Convertible.  Recently the car was involved in a low speed rear end collision.  The vertical surface of the trunk deck is dented in a little bit and the reflector lense is broken where it covers the trunk lock.  I thought the damage was purely cosmetic until I tried my taillights.  I have no taillights or brake lights, and the turn signals only light very faintly as long as the headlights are not on.  I have checked for frayed wires, replaced the turns/brake light bulbs, and checked the ground.  If you have any ideas, please let me know.

Thank you


Answer
Hi Chris,
Because virtually all the lights are out I believe that the ground return to the battery is your problem. All the black wires from the sockets are supposed to end up at a bolt on the left rear quarter panel. There is a 12-wire splice in the left of center groove below the trunk opening, and from that splice there must be a wire that leads to a bolt with a grommeted black wire secured to it near that splice. Unfortunately the diagrams don't show these ground points in all cases. If you find it, I would try running a jumper from that grommeted wire to the - post of the battery as a test of the ground path. It might reveal that the body path has been compromised by the collision. More likely I believe is that the single wire from the splice to the ground point has been severed so try a jumper from the multi-wire splice to the ground bolt. That ground path is the more likely issue for all these lights to be out.
An alternative explanation is a 6-pin disconnector said to be "under the rear lighting access cover" that brings the tail, stop and turn signal circuits to the rear end lighting, possibly located to the right of center. That connector could have separated and that would also cause what you have except I would not expect the turn signals to be working, even dimly if that were the case.
Finally, if you have the lamp outage panel then the ground is located at the center of the rear deck opening lower panel which is where you have the damage, and there are several more local disconnects nearby to also check.
Roland