Tail lights not working

Got pulled over this morning and cops told me tail lights were out. Got home after work and checked everything i could think of. Only other lights out are my license plate lights. never really noticed if the ever worked. truck is a 2002 tacoma extra cab with a 2.7 in it.


No blown fuses. None. checked all in dash and under hood.
relay is working because i took the one working and swapped to see.
I have power at the fuse when i turn on my headlights.
no power at the sockets for the bulbs.

I can only think of one thing and it's a broken wire. i'm going to try and see if there are any noticeable breaks anywhere tomorrow night but i figured maybe i'd ask you guys just in case i'm missing something simple.

 

Not sure what year your truck is. That's kinda important. On the early trucks the whole rear harness connection is under carpet on drivers side. You take carpet strip off and should be able to negotiate connection. You can check power in connector and know at least to that point. Sometimes you can unplug and plug back and bingo. GL

 

I will start there tomorrow. thanks. i updated my post to show what my truck is. sorry.

 

No problem dude.

 

Do you have a trailer tow package? If so do you have the convertor box for the turn signals? If so see if you have taillight power going into the box,and see if there is power going out of the box if not then that's your problem, there has been several people have rear lighting problems and the convertor box has been the culprit. Let us know what you find.

 

I have the tow package and i know exactly what black box you're talking about. You guys are the reason i come here. Thanks man. You guys are all great.

 

Good call pakrat!

 

That box caused ludicrous problems in my old 01 xtracab. Definetly have a look at it. Mine was in driver side taillight housing.

 

If you are one of these guys that tests wires by poking into them with a test light, Shoot yourself. I found my problem. In my loom that runs from my drivers seat through the floor along the top of the frame rail to the back of the truck some previous person needed to check for power. They cut open the loom and poked my tail light wire with a test light and it then started the awesome job of corroding. I never understood guys that poke wires and then leave them. I work on semi's from time to time and it's crazy how many mechanics do it. If you have to poke a wire immediately take a dob of silicone and put it on there. let it set up and then tape it off.

Thank you guys for the help in telling me about that harness under the seat and the black box. once i found power at the connector and not at the box i just started tracing the loom and viola. Thanks again.

 

Cool that you got it fixed. Thanks for finishing the post. Love to hear good endings. Andy

 

Glad to hear you got it figured out,I know what ya mean on poking wires with a test light,your dab of silicone and tape is a good way to prevent problems if you have to poke with a test light.