HELP! tail lights out!!!

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farrk007

20 Year 15 Year 10 Year
Joined
Nov 17, 2005
Threads
46
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186
Location
midwest/G.W.N
guys I noticed while the wife was puling out the truck late tonite that the tail lights didn't come on when she turned the lights on..but the brake lights work.
I checked the fuses checked and replaced both bulbs and that didn't fix the problem.
Is there something im overlooking?
Please help..in the meantime im searching the archives.
Thanks
 
Did you check the right fuse and is the fuse really good? Test it or swap it out with a good spare.
 
just took everything apart. the tail light housing,plastic seal behind it, inspected the wires, all looked good. then I took the trim off by the steering column and pulled out the fusebox for further inspection..all looked good.
Im stuck guys! any useful tips please?
 
Is it just the taillights? Do the front lights come on? You do have the double filament taillights right? (Sorry if i'm asking the stupid questions) If all that is good, then it has to be a wiring issue, if all your parking lights are out maybe the switch is bad?
 
MLX450 said:
Is it just the taillights? Do the front lights come on? You do have the double filament taillights right? (Sorry if i'm asking the stupid questions) If all that is good, then it has to be a wiring issue, if all your parking lights are out maybe the switch is bad?
Click to expand...

ya fronts come on...just NOT the tails. and this just came out of nowhere, no mods to my wiring system or anything and like I said I replaced everything I could...took the lights out, the housing,plastic covers inspected behind the bodypanel and all looks good on both sides..same thing by the fuses....unless theres another fuse location besides the one under the steering column or under the hood.
Im stumped.
 
Got a multimeter? With the lights on verify you are getting power to the taillights then you can rule out the wiring.
 
MLX450 said:
Got a multimeter? With the lights on verify you are getting power to the taillights then you can rule out the wiring.
Click to expand...
to be honest with you I don't have nor do I know how to use a multimeter( I know I should learn how) but the brake lights work. basically the same bulb( double filament).so theres power to the light..i just don't get it.
 
Last edited:
Get a meter and learn how to use it. Without it you are going to have an "interesting" life as your 80 gets older and more electrical gremlins appear....

Have you verified that the tail light filament in BOTH bulbs is OK??

The dual filament bulb that is the brake/taillight bulb has a common GROUND. So, for the brake light to light, +12V is sent to the bulb and the ground is provided via the body. This means that since your brake lights work, the ground to the bulb is good. BUT, it doesn't mean POWER is getting to the tail light. Since you have front lights working, this implies the fuse and relay are ok since they are common to the front and back. So, I'd guess you have lost the +12V running from the fuse to the rear - so harness/connector etc is likely the problem. Of course this assumes that both rear tail light filaments haven't blown over the years.... So check that first.

cheers,
george.
 
george_tlc said:
Get a meter and learn how to use it. Without it you are going to have an "interesting" life as your 80 gets older and more electrical gremlins appear....

Have you verified that the tail light filament in BOTH bulbs is OK??

The dual filament bulb that is the brake/taillight bulb has a common GROUND. So, for the brake light to light, +12V is sent to the bulb and the ground is provided via the body. This means that since your brake lights work, the ground to the bulb is good. BUT, it doesn't mean POWER is getting to the tail light. Since you have front lights working, this implies the fuse and relay are ok since they are common to the front and back. So, I'd guess you have lost the +12V running from the fuse to the rear - so harness/connector etc is likely the problem. Of course this assumes that both rear tail light filaments haven't blown over the years.... So check that first.

cheers,
george.
Click to expand...

By the harness/connector you mean the "housing" for the fuses correct? if this is the culprit and a replacement be found? either through Toyota or otherwise? and is there a part number to this? thanks so much for the info George!
 
First check both bulbs (have you done that yet?).

If BOTH bulbs are ok, then the problem won't be in the light housings since the chance that both have got problems is pretty low... So, the harness & any harness connectors may have some issue. You need to look into the FSM electrical & body manuals to chase down places to that you may have lost the +12V WITH A METER.... This assumes that the front park lights are operational and the problem is only the rear park/tail lights.

Once you debug, then you may decide if you need to spend money on parts...

cheers,
george.
 
Both bulbs are ok. that's the first thing I checked, the front park lights are operational..the reason why I asked for the part info was 'cos I im thinking I can just change it out first. kill two birds with one stone so to speak( a new connector/harness) and (problem fixed) that way if I take her(if that doesn't fix it) in I can tell them at the shop about everything I've tried to hopefully shave-off the amount of time and $$ they spend chasing down the problem.
 
farrk007 said:
Both bulbs are ok. that's the first thing I checked, the front park lights are operational..the reason why I asked for the part info was 'cos I im thinking I can just change it out first. kill two birds with one stone so to speak( a new connector/harness) and (problem fixed) that way if I take her(if that doesn't fix it) in I can tell them at the shop about everything I've tried to hopefully shave-off the amount of time and $$ they spend chasing down the problem.
Click to expand...

Bulbs can sometimes "look" ok but without a continuity test (using a 12v battery or MultiMeter) you don't really know.
 
farrk007 said:
Both bulbs are ok. that's the first thing I checked, the front park lights are operational..the reason why I asked for the part info was 'cos I im thinking I can just change it out first. kill two birds with one stone so to speak( a new connector/harness) and (problem fixed) that way if I take her(if that doesn't fix it) in I can tell them at the shop about everything I've tried to hopefully shave-off the amount of time and $$ they spend chasing down the problem.
Click to expand...

The harness is a major piece of wiring and not something you can just 'pop out' and replace...

Get a meter and start determining where you are losing the +12V drive to your rear park lights.

Search this forum for the electrical FSM (it'll be for a '96 but should be close enough). There's also a body FSM you can download. With those 2 documents you can find where the wiring runs are and if there are any connectors in the harness. Given you have lost both rear sides it has to be something common to both.

cheers,
george.
 
Hi, I have exactly the same problem after towing a trailer with a wiring fault (1996 80 series) I was thinking perhaps there is a relay for just for the rear lights but dont know where to start looking for it,
Any one have any ideas?.....Please....
 
Do the rear license plate lights and red side markers come on?
 
New one same description.
1994 LC
Taillights, dash lights, front parking lights, and rear markers lights out.
Have brake lights and all headlights.
Have all dome lights.

Tail light bulbs good visually.

Swapped the tail light relay with known good and no difference.

Checked tail fuse and good (with multimeter)

Disconnected main harness in LR unplugged, cleaned, sprayed, back together. Still no tail lights.

Any ideas?
 
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