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Malfunctioning tail/brake light

Tiny
MATTJHEN
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA
  • 3.4L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 170,000 MILES
My taillight (only one on side) is not working. The terminals on the bulb were melted, and I replaced that. Long story short, after some testing I narrowed it down to the wiring harness on the one side that is some how not connecting? All wires are connected though, and I scrubbed it free of any dirt/corrosion. I’m hoping there’s a fix other than taking to a mechanic to rewire or something?
Thanks for any help.
*Also my lower blinker light on the front end of the same side is missing, like cut off so wires are exposed, could this be the problem?
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Thursday, August 15th, 2019 AT 10:52 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
Welcome to 2CarPros.

Since it is only one light, I have a few questions. First, which side of the truck is it and which bulb. Next, you indicated it was narrowed down to the wiring harness. Is there power at the harness you are referring to? If there is but it doesn't make it to the bulb, then there is a break in that wire at some point. On the other hand, it could be a corroded connection. Have you tried to wire direct and bypass the plug? Also, I know that aftermarket light sockets have different color wiring. Are you sure it is connected correctly?

Let me know which side and bulb so I can study a few wiring schematics to better help. I will watch for your reply.

Take care,
Joe
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Thursday, August 15th, 2019 AT 7:14 PM
Tiny
MATTJHEN
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I have not. That would be a good final thing to test as it would narrow it down to the actual connector or the wire itself. Thank you. And it is the passenger rear side, the actual tail light.
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Saturday, August 17th, 2019 AT 4:24 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
Welcome back:

Let me know what you find and we'll go from there.

Take care,
Joe
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Saturday, August 17th, 2019 AT 5:26 PM
Tiny
MATTJHEN
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Hey Joe,

So I bought a new terminal, I got from the junkyard and tried it out bypassing the actual wiring. It worked. Once I connected to the actual in wiring, it doesn’t. So I think I narrowed it to the actual wire itself, for the taillight. Which helps, but I don’t even know where i’d begin to look for that.
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Thursday, August 22nd, 2019 AT 6:45 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
Welcome back:

Confirm the ground to the light socket at the assembly is good. If it is, then start at the light assembly. Use your test light and follow the power wire back to where it worked. At some point, you will find a break in the wire. The wiring runs along the frame under the vehicle.

Let me know if that makes sense or if you have other questions.

Joe
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Thursday, August 22nd, 2019 AT 9:44 PM

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