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Help needed: issue with brake lights

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by mwrood, Apr 16, 2024.

  1. Apr 16, 2024 at 12:44 PM
    #1
    mwrood

    mwrood [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Resolved. It was the bulbs. Hopefully nothing is causing them to short out but time will tell!!

    This is in regards to a 2021 TRD Sport. Any help would be greatly appreciated!


    Looking for help: today both of my brake lights suddenly stopped working. The reverse lights, the running lights, and the third brake light works. For clarification, I am talking about the middle bulb. I checked both the Tail and Stop fuses and they are working fine.

    I’ve also read that the depressor switch under the pedal could be stuck or not working but since my third brake light works I’m doubting that.

    I know my next step would be to replace the bulbs and check for power to those sockets, which I plan on doing after work, but I wanted to see if anyone has heard of this and if there is something else I am overlooking.
     
    Last edited: Apr 16, 2024
  2. Apr 16, 2024 at 12:47 PM
    #2
    HondaGM

    HondaGM Call sign Monke

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    I would pull the taillights and check the bulbs if the 3Rd brake light is working
     
  3. Apr 16, 2024 at 3:00 PM
    #3
    mwrood

    mwrood [OP] Well-Known Member

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    It was the bulbs. Never heard of two bulbs blowing at the same time but I’m relieved to find out that’s all it was. Had me sweating all day at the office. Lol
     
    shakerhood likes this.
  4. Apr 16, 2024 at 3:51 PM
    #4
    Mallcrawler20

    Mallcrawler20 Well-Known Member

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    I would keep an eye on it never heard 2 bulbs going out the same time unless they are on the same circuit ..if one goes out so does the other .
     
    Chew likes this.
  5. Apr 16, 2024 at 4:23 PM
    #5
    mwrood

    mwrood [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I read something along the lines of the right brake light is fed through the left one but yeah, same here. Never heard of two going out. I’ll definitely keep an eye on it. I’ll also peek around to see if I see any damaged wires.
     
  6. Apr 16, 2024 at 5:35 PM
    #6
    gudujarlson

    gudujarlson Well-Known Member

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    Did you verify that the original bulbs are indeed toast? This is usually obvious with incandescent bulbs due a broken filament and a dark stain on the inside of the bulb. Sometimes simply futzing with 12v systems causes them to start working again (at least temporarily).
     
  7. Apr 16, 2024 at 6:08 PM
    #7
    mwrood

    mwrood [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I did very. They were LED bulbs but I tried them in known working sockets, and moved working bulbs to the sockets that weren’t working. I ended up just putting all of the OEM bulbs back in the entire rear light housing just so I don’t have to worry about it. I got a good three years out of them so I can’t complain.
     
  8. Apr 16, 2024 at 7:22 PM
    #8
    mrengineerical

    mrengineerical Well-Known Member

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    What if it's like Christmas lights on the same circuit, if one bulb up-chain goes out, the other does too?
     
  9. Apr 16, 2024 at 7:30 PM
    #9
    4x4junkie

    4x4junkie Well-Known Member

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    That would only happen if the lights were wired in series. The brake light bulbs are wired parallel.
     
  10. Apr 16, 2024 at 7:44 PM
    #10
    mrengineerical

    mrengineerical Well-Known Member

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    Thought someone said above the right feeds the left or vice-versa? Maybe I'm misreading that as in series.
     
  11. Apr 16, 2024 at 8:26 PM
    #11
    mwrood

    mwrood [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I’m the one who said that. I don’t remember what website I saw that on or even if it was in reference to a Tacoma this point. Lol
     
  12. Apr 16, 2024 at 8:28 PM
    #12
    knayrb

    knayrb Well-Known Member

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    Try the emergency flashers. They flash the brake lights which will prove it is or isn't bulbs.
     
  13. Apr 17, 2024 at 5:59 AM
    #13
    mwrood

    mwrood [OP] Well-Known Member

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    The hazards don’t flash the brake lights (middle bulb). They flash the running lights (top bulb)
     

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