Tail light issue

2002 tacoma regular cab 4x4

I took my bed off this weekend to work on some fuel tank stuff. Got that all taken care of, then when I got my bed back on and tail lights hooked up, when I turn on a blinker, that specified sides reverse light flashes instead of the blinker, along with my 3rd brake light. Any tips on what's going on?

 

You possibly could have a broken filament in one of the bulbs. This causes crazy things to happen with the other lights. My vote is check your bulbs and maybe clean and work the bulb sockets for better contact. I also clean with electrical contact cleaner when I work on things with electrical connectors and sockets as needed and as I go. Oxidation sets in on 20+ yr old connections. Stuff works wonders for longevity on any contact, switch, connector, socket and ground. Your wire connections you took off for bed removal SHOULD BE IDIOT PROOF so they should be correct.

 

One of the bulb sockets is messed up. I had trouble getting it back in.

 

Faulty grounds do strange things. Square body gm pickups had a common side marker blinker failure (at the plug) that would do weird dash light things as it would seek out a ground.

 

I think I have some janky wiring going on back there. I had to pull the bulbs out and the sockets out of the tail light assemblys because some of it it hard wired so I couldn't just unplug the harness. I was wondering if that's how it was from the factory or what was going on.

 

Been a couple years since I had my bed off, man. Just a couple connections on both sides IIRC. All mine had connectors. I do remember TIE wrapping a wire run across back from driver to passenger side. ??????



Edit: sockets are removed from light housings and they stay on the wires with the truck

 

Ha, you like me. I always get to crawl around on the rocky driveway when I'm working on my truck. Lol PEACE

 

That's what I have that piece of plywood for. I've learned

 

I hear ya, I got a few things I put down first to assist. For me, my floor jack and stands and tools.

 

Real Man.
Love It!!!


Hell
Still debating in my mind which is worse?
-contorting your body for a ‘bitch bolt’
-having a pebble pinch your back


Both cases……(for me)…..cursing occurs