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License plate light in off-road bumper

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by jriding, Apr 30, 2022.

  1. Apr 30, 2022 at 8:49 AM
    #1
    jriding

    jriding [OP] New Member

    Joined:
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    Josh
    Vehicle:
    2019 Tacoma trd sport
    leveling kit, fender flares, body armor bumper
    So I have a 2019 Tacoma and like 2 years ago put a body armor rear bumper on it. Was living in NC at the time and license plate lights weren’t required to pass inspection. I just moved to Maryland for work and trying to register my truck here and it won’t pass the safety inspection without license plate lights. There’s a hole in the bumper that a universal license plate light will fit in. However all the universal lights I’ve found just have 2 wires coming out and I’m assuming I need to be able to plug in to one of these plugs I looked at just cutting the plug out and direct wiring but there are 4 wires coming in to the smaller gray plug(the one I think goes to those lights). So what plug do I need to hook up the universal light to that plug or how can I directly wire. Open to any and all suggestions.

    9EDCE1E1-0909-4968-8F63-67926FB7F7E5.jpg
    9C02E608-0309-43DE-B69F-18BE61FCC642.jpg
     
  2. Apr 30, 2022 at 12:04 PM
    #2
    littlefish

    littlefish Buzz, your girlfriend...

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    The one who dies with the most stuff wins.
    Black is always ground.

    In this case white would be hot. Tie that into a circuit that comes on with the tail lights. Use a volt meter at those connections to see which wire is hot when you turn on the lights.
     
  3. Apr 30, 2022 at 12:10 PM
    #3
    dezert.taco

    dezert.taco Well-Known Member

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    I didn’t use a plug, I just cut the plug off an used heat shrink butt connectors to connect the license plate lights when I installed my bumper. I was also under the impression all states required license plate lights, weird.

    Edit: There is 4 wires because on the factory bumper you have two lights, one on each side of the plate right an each light has a pair of wires. If you just want to use one, I suppose you could just tape off the remaining two. Or if you saved your factory lights, cut the plug off of those an splice this light into that connector.
     
  4. Apr 30, 2022 at 12:44 PM
    #4
    AmericasHat

    AmericasHat Well-Known Member

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    I just made up some harness’ to turn off my plate lights in reverse so I know exactly what you need to know. The plate lights go through that grey 4 pin so we’re gonna be looking at that. The lights only use 2 of the 4 wires, the other 2 are used for trucks with the BSM sensors. Referring to your picture you’re gonna be pulling power and ground from. The original harness would have had the splice to make it into the 2 light plugs. If you’re wiring is the same colour as mine the white wire with the black stripe should be ground. I do have a link or where to buy the connector if you’d like it. Picture of the pins you need for reference

    AAE877F8-9917-43AA-AC91-E6F89480371D.jpg
     
  5. Apr 30, 2022 at 1:13 PM
    #5
    Benny blanco

    Benny blanco Mr. Jiggletits

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    Ben Day Ho
    Whoville<>Trollhättan
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    Some stuff
    The ground is white with a black stripe.
     
  6. Jun 9, 2025 at 4:21 PM
    #6
    H3llRid3r

    H3llRid3r Well-Known Member

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    Not much stock left.
    I would be interested in a link to the connector if it plugs into the factory wiring harness.
     

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