tail lights don't work

I've got an '05 tacoma on which the tail lights have gone out. I checked the fuse in the dash(10a). Seems fine but I switched it with the spare anyway. No improvement. The license light doesn't come on either, but I'm not certain it did before. Wouldn't a short blow out the fuse? & I should be able to tell by looking at the fuse if it's blown, right? Blackened or broken sort of thing?
Any other ideas?

Thanks for looking.

 

did you check the bulbs?
I know on the front if one parking light goes out, neither of them work.

 

i cant imagine if one light goes out then all the rest goes out. just about everything is wired parrell instead of series. check all wire connections. you said you tried replacing the fuse right?

 

check the wire going in the fuse box, it may have backed out

 

There is usually a relay for the parking lights also. I think it's under the hood on a 2nd gen Taco. You could try swapping it with another relay for testing.

 

Or maybe you are grounding off or something because i had that problem and it was my amp ground was good so i fix it then it worked. I would say check all your grounds. Do you have any thing hook up like stereo or any other things please tell. But if your parking light works in the front then it is something else

 

WOW!! So many replies, so fast! What a great & helpful community.
I'm getting a good look underneath tomorrow, but the wiring under the dash looks solid to me, although I will get a second opinion.

The rest of the lights all work, even the break lights.

As far as stereo or after market electronics;
It's the factory deck with an fm transmitter for an ipod, wired to the antenna, installed at Future Shop last September. (I couldn't figure out how to install an aux port (a problem for another day)).
I also had command start installed in December(also at Future Shop).

Thanks so much for ALL the input. I will keep you posted.

 

So, brake lamps work? I'd pull the bulbs, aren't they dual filament? Maybe the running light filaments are shot. If it was a fuse for tail lamps, I don't think the brake lights would work. Quick and simple to pull out the bulbs.

 

The brake lights would still work because mine did when my tail light fuse blew it has to be a grounding off with the radio thats the only thing i got

 

Both bulbs (both filaments) seem fine. Also tried new ones.
The fuse seems fine (I've tried 3)
So far I can't find a ground out, & wouldn't that blow the fuse?

 

Check connections behind the fuse box?

 

While taking my wife to the hospital a couple weeks ago (the 12th) to have our son... my father (who had followed us there in his truck), pointed out that my tail lights weren't on. When I finally got a chance to check, sure enough, no tail lights/running lights with headlights turned on.

I went to O'Reily's and checked all the fuses and swapped out the bulbs just to be sure. Like you, I have brake lights, turn signals, and reverse lights, but the running lights won't work.

It then occurred to me that my stereo is also not lighting up when the running lights come on (stock stereo as well).

Personally, I know nothing about vehicle electronics. And I am thinking about just seeing if it's covered under the warranty (bought new in 2007). I have made some modifications to the wiring for the headlights in the front, but that was quite some time ago, and the lights just recently stopped working.

If anyone knows from experience where the problem lies and could point 'us' in the right direction that'd be great. I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable digging into the electronics by myself...

 

one time it happened to me after i hit a small bump on the highway, my wire backed outta the fuse box...

 

The main fuse box?

 

yes

 

I've taken the Tacoma to the installer (Future Shop). They were less than useful. Now I'm waiting to get into my mechanic. I just can't find the problem... Although I greatly appreciate everyone's input! Thank you. I'll let you know what he says.

 

Check the tail lights ground wire under the rear of the truck it should be bolted to the frame somewhere behind the rear bumper. Animals love wiring and so does road salt.

 

Broken wire under the rear of the truck. Thank you everyone for all the help with this.
On a side note; the lights came on when I made the connection under the rear end. The next day one was out.... WTF?!?
It was just a bulb (big smiley face).

 

Similar problem with my 02 Tacoma.. the dash lights quit and tonight I noticed NONE of my driving lights work (front or rear). Brakes, turn signals and reverse all work 100%. All fuses are good.

If I come up with a solution, I'll let y'all know.

Going to check bulbs (all the way around), loose wires in both fuse boxes and ground wire in the rear. Other than that, I can only think it's the switch.

On a side note, my power mirror switch seems to be on the fritz... both mirrors will move up and in but not down and out. I LOVE my Tacoma but the electronics issues are a pain in these 21st century rigs.

 

Why did it take me two days to find this thread? I've been looking all over tacomaworld, just to find the location of the fuse box (behind the coin tray).