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Brake light intermentently not working

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by Coarch, Apr 13, 2025.

  1. Apr 13, 2025 at 7:04 PM
    #1
    Coarch

    Coarch [OP] Member

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    My right rear brake light works intermittently. This is the top bulb. When it doesn't work I can smack or tap it and it comes back one. I've troubleshooted it to the electrical plug. The gray plug. I've done this by swapping the bulb and black-bulb plug with the opposite side. The problem stays with the GRAY plug. What do I do now?

    Can I take this apart and clean/fix it?
    Do I make another connection with a new gray plug?
    Can I spray something inside to help the connection?

    I'm not taking my truck to the dealership because I think they'd spend a year trying to fix this sort of thing. Even after I troubleshooted it to the plug.

    20250411_191916.jpg
    20250411_191859.jpg
     
  2. Apr 13, 2025 at 7:33 PM
    #2
    akimmel

    akimmel Well-Known Member

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    Hmm, the plug doesn't seem to have any corrosion or heat damage that would make the connection poor. Can you plug the bulb and holder back in (separate from the taillight assembly) and kinda move it around and wiggle the wires to see if you can replicate the problem and narrow it down further?
     
  3. Apr 13, 2025 at 9:51 PM
    #3
    Coarch

    Coarch [OP] Member

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    I'll try to narrow this down to one particular wire tomorrow.
     
  4. Apr 13, 2025 at 9:55 PM
    #4
    caribe makaira

    caribe makaira Well-Known Member

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    What about a pic of the lamp holder (without the lamp)?
     
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  5. Apr 13, 2025 at 10:00 PM
    #5
    caribe makaira

    caribe makaira Well-Known Member

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  6. Apr 14, 2025 at 7:36 AM
    #6
    AvalonTaco

    AvalonTaco Falken Sales Rep.

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    Working on a lien delete for my title…..
    Let me know how this goes. I’m having a similar issue with all my turn signals…
     
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  7. Apr 14, 2025 at 10:14 AM
    #7
    Greg-tacoma

    Greg-tacoma Well-Known Member

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    Be sure they are all pushed in well. Then spray contact cleaner.
     
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  8. Apr 14, 2025 at 1:22 PM
    #8
    Coarch

    Coarch [OP] Member

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    It's the ground (white/black stripe) wire. I wiggled it and now it wont work at all. Any thoughts on fixing it. Is there a way to take the wire out and solder/reset the connection. Is there a way to take these apart and rebuild them?

    It is not the bulb or the bulb plug (black plug). I've test/troubleshooted those parts by swapping them with the other side. The both work consistently over and over again. I would love to have that be the problem. It would be a very easy to fix.

    EDIT: OK, maybe on an idiot. I'm going to find another, another, new bulb to test with.
     
    Last edited: Apr 14, 2025
  9. Apr 14, 2025 at 4:43 PM
    #9
    canuck guy

    canuck guy Well-Known Member

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    Don't know why you would disconnect the connector from the bulb holder. Usually when a light doesn't work you try replacing with a brand new one from the new package. Maybe start by putting the connectors back on the holders and replace all brake bulbs with fresh new ones from the store.
     
  10. Apr 15, 2025 at 8:28 AM
    #10
    Coarch

    Coarch [OP] Member

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    It was the bulb. It appear the first one I bought was faulty in someway. It was tricking me into thinking the plug was the issue.
     
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  11. Apr 15, 2025 at 9:05 AM
    #11
    Greg-tacoma

    Greg-tacoma Well-Known Member

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    Glad it worked out,
     
  12. Apr 15, 2025 at 9:32 AM
    #12
    Chew

    Chew Not so well known user

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    You are smart to double back and check! So many assume, just because it's new, means it's good, and drive themselves mad working around a new not-so-good part.
     
  13. Apr 16, 2025 at 4:39 PM
    #13
    Canadian Caber

    Canadian Caber R.I.P Layne Staley 67-2002

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    Name brand or budget bulb or did it really matter?
     

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