Tail lights / Tag Light Not Working

2017 Tacoma SR5 My tail lights and tag light are not working. Looking for any ideas to fix. I just replaced the tail light lens on the driver's side after a hit and run. All lights were functioning prior to replacing the lens. Now, everything works except the tail lights and tag lights. I checked the fuse, under the dash, and that appears to be fine. Any other suggestions? I have an appointment at dealership on Monday, but was hoping it was something easy that I missed.

 

I switched to trd pro tails and the same thing happened. Turns out i blew the tail fuse because one of the bulbs had the contacts touching and it caused a short. Check your bulbs and the tail fuse, it's the 7.5 amp fuse second down on passenger side iirc

 

All stock? No LED 'upgrades'?

Is there voltage in the sockets?

 

Bulb filaments looked intact and fuse looked fine also.

 

All stock - No LED.
Turn signals, brake lights, & reverse lights work. Just no tail lights w/ head lights and no tag lights.

 

I'd change the fuse just for shits, it might be blown even if it looks fine.

 

Use a DVM to check for socket voltage and ohm the fuse.

$5 or $6 unit at HF will be fine. Even a 12v test light will work for this.

 

Changed the fuse, still no joy. Reinspected bulbs and connections, still no joy.

 

Have an appt for Monday at dealer. Should be under warranty

 

Why would this be under warranty? The lights worked before the hit and run... now they don't. Was a socket or wiring damaged causing a short you don't see? If the dealership does indeed take care of it under warranty good for you, but I wouldn't count on it. Just don't want you to be set up for disappointment if they find some physical damage related to the hit and run. Good luck.

 

Is the harness intact? Perhaps there's a break in a wire or something similar... Also, check your connections. Always check the last thing you did!!!

 

The only damage to the truck was a crack in the tail light lens. It worked fine before I switched the lens out. I plan to tell them about the lens. It may or may not be covered. Either way, it’s got to be fixed.

 

Harness and everything is intact. The new lens came with sockets and bulbs. Switched from the new to the old and back again. Have wiggled the connections and compared both sides. Everything looks the same. I even looked at the old lens to see if there was any pressure or rub marks from when the lens got broken. None.

 

I have the exact same issue. ‘16 Toy Tacoma TRD OFF-ROAD. Purchased 1.5 months ago certified preowned w/ 19k. Was driving & all of a sudden smelt a burnt electrical smell of some kind. Checked everything. Turns out, everything is working, accept my “running” lights. (Front corner amber lights in the headlight assembly/ no license plate lights/ and no rear running lights) All signals & hazards blink & low/ highs work. Have appt. set up today. They have already got me in and took a quick peak, but didn’t have time to get me in the shop (this was a week ago). So appt. @ Toyota is today. All fuses under hood and under steering wheel are good & in tact. In inspecting, I took the rear tail light assembly’s off, and it looked as if someone was messing w/ the wires, just behind the harnesses. (You could see the factory plastic tubing was missing on both sides right below the blinking harness (top).) But still since they still blink/ hazards/ & brakes the wires aren’t the issue, and the fuses are perfect. Help!!

 

Others people's shoddy wiring jobs can be a nightmare, luckily the taillight circuit, at the taillight most likely isn't too complex. I'd get to the dealer or of not under warranty, a good tech that can read schematics.

 

Good. Let us know what they find. The OP of the original post bailed a year ago w/o sharing results. Which helps no one.

You'll get your help when you keep your appointment.

What you describe is tough to internet diagnose.

 

Well at the dealership now, and first thing is first. I have the Toyota platinum warranty, but...I installed a TRD PRO grill with three little itty bitty amber led lights in the grill, hooked them up right when I purchased the vehicle. The service writer seen that, and said, must likely this will NOT be covered under your electrical warranty because you did the work, not us. I told him, that has nothing to do with the issue that we’re dealing with right now (no running lights). I told him if it had to do w/ the LED’s that I installed, this problem would have happened then (2 months ago or so). He then went on to explain “listen, these new trucks work off of alternating current, they’re not like old trucks where there was always “steady” power. (Makes no sense to me what he’s saying). So he’s basically saying although you installed the LED grill lights two months ago, that very well as could be the issue. I responded, well upon diagnosing, wouldn’t you have to prove that, that was the issue? He didn’t respond. It’s in the shop now, of course they will not let me back there to help the mechanic and tell him what I already know, etc.

But, at most, I’m looking T a $260.00 diagnosis fee, and that’s just to “find” the issue. If my warranty does not cover it, which this service writer sounds to me that he’s NOT going to warranty the issue, depending on what the diagnosis is, this may be $1,000’s if dollars! I’m freakn scared! Of course you can’t modify unless Toyota does it themselves charging you arm & leg. So I’ll let this thread know what the diagnosis is. Hopefully something small that I missed, if small then he said he will not charge me & send me on my way. F!!!

 

If they don’t honor my warranty, I’m driving back to the original Toyota dealership & throwing the keys at them unless they fix it! Very irritating! This is not my fault is the Sh*ts of it. If it were something I did I would MTFU, but just driving, & zap! Keep you posted...

 

Did you power them from the circuit that is now dead?

 

Not sure if the issue, they said “Aspen sound” whom initially installed the remote start “saudered” there lines together into my lights circuit, which is distrusting something. So they’re buttoning it all up, & I’m driving it to original toy dealer, they’re putting me in a rental Tacoma/ tundra and figuring it out with their third party installers whom fuc*ked up big time. I’m not paying a dime. Original toy dealer is paying this toy dealer the labor charges for today (3 hrs) $$360.00 + tax) then once they gave my Taco, they will fix whatever. And I will not pickup until all is perfect as well as some other things that are coming apart such as the front bumper is coming loose, jiggle sound in the dash above glovebox (which I’ve stuck rubber/ foam between passenger dash speaker and a-arm, noise goes away, then comes back). All said and done, after all this, I will be saying “i should not have had to deal with this, give me TRD PRO wheels/ Tires/ 3” leveling kit, etc. etc. etc.! Lol, no just blueing off steam, but will keep this thread posted m, but the “break” in the line is obviously where the third party installed the remote start and connected wires by just “saudering” wires together...