License plate light wont work, known issue?

[2002WRXSTi]

Anyway I get pulled over 3:30 yesterday for get this...my license plate light was out

My car has been having issues with with the lights going on if it the slightest bit dark or over cast out. So I came out from beside the post office in Somerville and since it was dark on that side of the building my lights went on. Next thing I know a cop that was sitting on the corner in the lane starts to follow me.

Long story short he gives me a ticket for no plate light in broad dailight I just passed inspection so I was like huh? Snowy rain out there today but I pulled the light fixture out and the bulb is fine. I have a Snap On probe that tells ground and power but for the life of me I can't find it today.

So does anyone know if there is an issue with the plate lights going out? Like a lost ground or a connector that looses contact? Just seeing if it will be an easy fix or I'm gonna have to dig around when it stops this snow BS

 

[kustomizingkid]

That's really weird... I'd prolly just rewire it, tie it into the running lights on your tail lights...

 

[XLRVIII]

(thought from the far side gallery)

Dont all those wires run up by the drivers side trunk hinge?
the place that the carpet slices the wiring harness?

Take a peek up there and see how many severed or chaffed wires you have

 

[2002WRXSTi]

I check it out tomorrow when it stops raining out. Hopefully it turns out to be a simple fix.

 

[2002WRXSTi]

Anyway today was the day I decided to figure out why my plate light would not work? I got my probe and my Fluke out to test what the deal was. I find that there is nothing from either light socket connector

So I oped up the back of the trunk to follow the wiring and see where the opening is in the circuit. Cannot find anything wrong but I also can't get a reading from the light socket to the wires in the trunk. I mean nothing at all and it was driving me nuts! I go under the bumper as I was going to run some new wires and just link them with the side marker light. Upon dong that I found this under the bumper.

That is the clip that goes to the plate light from the body into the bumper. Seems something ate the wires off flush! So I clipped off the factory black clip in the picture and butted the wired right to the chassis wires. Works now but I have to figure out what or how the old wire disappeared :shifty:

 

[unity]

Well copper is a hot market right now....

 

[RedCellSix]

lol