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Tail light problems

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Suggs12, May 30, 2017.

  1. May 30, 2017 at 10:11 AM
    #1
    Suggs12

    Suggs12 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Logan
    Johnson City, Tennessee
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    3" Lift kit, Bilstein 5100 front and rear, 2881 EMU coils, 2" Deavers AAL, 18x9 KMC rockstar 1 wheels and 33" Nitto Terra Grapplers, Debadged, Grillcraft insert, clear corner and turn lights, 6k Leds, 30" Led light bar, 4 Pod fog lights.
    I just put new tail lights in about 3 months ago and since then my right brake light keeps going out. I've replaced the bulb 3 times and it continues to go out. Has anyone else had problems with this issue?
     
  2. May 30, 2017 at 10:15 AM
    #2
    frizzman

    frizzman Well-Known Member

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    OME 2.5,Tundra 17s,Falken Wildpeak AT3W hitch w/ 7-pin, ARE cap, JVC HU w/BT, HID/LED lights
    what kind of tail lights did you put in?

    do you have a plug-in trailer wire harness?

    what kind of bulb (LED or incandescent)?

    pull the tail light housing, notice any burn or hot spots?
     
  3. May 30, 2017 at 10:53 AM
    #3
    Suggs12

    Suggs12 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Logan
    Johnson City, Tennessee
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    2004 PreRunner
    3" Lift kit, Bilstein 5100 front and rear, 2881 EMU coils, 2" Deavers AAL, 18x9 KMC rockstar 1 wheels and 33" Nitto Terra Grapplers, Debadged, Grillcraft insert, clear corner and turn lights, 6k Leds, 30" Led light bar, 4 Pod fog lights.
  4. May 30, 2017 at 12:33 PM
    #4
    frizzman

    frizzman Well-Known Member

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    double check the wires on the new housings. make sure no exposed wires making contact that could cause a short. make sure no loose wires either.

    you can also put the old housings back in, and just use the lenses from the new ones as they are just held on by the screws/washers and see if it happens again.
     
  5. May 30, 2017 at 1:29 PM
    #5
    RysiuM

    RysiuM Well-Known Member

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    So you say the right brake keeps going out meaning the bulb keeps burning out? You sure that the bulb burns or the the rest of the circuit stops delivering the power to the bulb?
    If this is the bulb it could mean bad quality of bulb (possible), to high voltage from the alternator (unlikely), not enough cooling in the new housing (possible). Especially when you have auto transmission meaning you keep that bulb on while stopping on the intersection waiting for the traffic or the green light. Then the housing can have some hot spots or burning marks, or not.
    If the bulb is OK but your right stop light is out, you need to look for bad contact in the bulb housing (very possible) or bad connector with the harness (also possible).
     
  6. May 30, 2017 at 1:48 PM
    #6
    ThunderOne

    ThunderOne Well-Known Member

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    Why not just swap your OEM housings back in and change the lenses with those tinted ones?
     
  7. May 30, 2017 at 2:13 PM
    #7
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    ^^^This.

    Sounds to me more like you got some crappy housings that probably have a short in the plug or something.
     
  8. May 31, 2017 at 5:38 AM
    #8
    Suggs12

    Suggs12 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
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    Messages:
    253
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Logan
    Johnson City, Tennessee
    Vehicle:
    2004 PreRunner
    3" Lift kit, Bilstein 5100 front and rear, 2881 EMU coils, 2" Deavers AAL, 18x9 KMC rockstar 1 wheels and 33" Nitto Terra Grapplers, Debadged, Grillcraft insert, clear corner and turn lights, 6k Leds, 30" Led light bar, 4 Pod fog lights.
    I guess I could just swap out the housings, that would probably be the easiest fix. Thanks guys
     

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