Wiring issue after changing rear hinges

Hi all,

New to owning Jimnys; got a 2006 that had both rear hinge pins snap so i bought some replacements, sprayed them up and set about replacing them yesterday. Tested the rear lights after putting it all back together and realised that both rear lights dont work. Indicators and brake lights work fine. Checked the contacts with a multimeter on both sides and neither is reading anywhere close to 12v, more like 0.0 something, checked all fuses under the steering wheel and one was blown (which i replaced but that did bigger all, god knows what that fuse was for lol)
 Read an older forum on here about the wiring cluster of earths and live wires that earth somewhere on/near the rear bumper. After reading that i think i may have dislodged some without realising they were there.

Can anyone elaborate on what wires go back there and where they earth? Its worth considering that it does have a towbar/wiring connector fitted, and after a brief look under there 10 minutes ago, it seems whoever did connect the two has done the worst job at following proper or even semi proper procdure in regards to connecting and protecting the wire. Even from a brief glace i could see a huge ball of what seemed to be plastic bag wrapped around it all taped up...

Any input would be great as i would love to get this fixed and not have to rely on a shop mechanic at 85 per hour.

Thanks in advance for any responses!

First - ALL of the lights at the back there share a common ground, tail lights & brake lights are a single bulb with a common ground, reverse lights, turn signals, all same ground.

Second - assuming that you do know how to use a multi-meter and you are using it correctly, if you don't have 12V with lights on, it's a power supply problem, not a ground problem.

Moving on - tail lights are fed from the same source as number plate lights, front park lights and dash cluster back lights - if those are working you need to find where the feed to the tail lights is broken. If none of them are working than you need to focus on the supply & switch side of things.

Thanks very much for the response. My multimeter skills are ropey at best - only bought the thing earlier this year to diagnose a radio wiring issue. All fixed now but took way longer than it should haha! So forgive me if i make some mistakes.

As far as i could tell there was no power at all to the rear tail lights, which you've said is a power issue not a ground, ill double check today if the number plate lights work as well as the front park lights/sidelights.

As you say, all of the lights at the rear share a common ground, and the brake lights are working, if it is the power wire, are you aware of the route it takes through the bodywork? I'm partially thinking its unlikely to be this, as i hardly pulled on it to remove the rear light housing unless the factory connection was weak as can be. All worth a go none the less.

That being said whoever wired in the rear trailer hitch has done such a bodge job (wires everywhere and even a plastic bag thrown on top) is there a chance they got the 12v from the rear lights and i've disturbed it? While the rear bumper was off (which was absolutely full of mud i gave it all a spray down with a hose as it was sat there rusting out the rear corner, i'm thinking i could have either pulled some wires loose, or covered the joined wires in water?

Really appreciate you helping a novice out. I've got to say i don't know much about cars and am learning plenty as i go but electrics are another ball game!

In a nutshell, on a motor vehicle, always connect the meter negative probe to a known good chassis ground or the battery negative, there are occasions when it may be necessary to deviate from this, but, unless you know why it needs to be done, don't do it.

Switch the side/park lights on, ensure the front park lights are working, and walk to the back, if the tail lights and number plate lights aren't on also, take the meter, set to volts, connect the meter negative to a known good chassis ground and then with the positive, probe the feed to the tail lights at the bulb socket, on most Suzukis this is a red wire with yellow stripe, if you have 12V here, probe the ground wire, usually black, if you also get 12V here there's a broken ground.