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Are headlights and marker lights on the same circuit?

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by JFS, May 17, 2020.

  1. May 17, 2020 at 8:34 AM
    #1
    JFS

    JFS [OP] Member

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    swapped bench for bucket seats, monstalinered the bed.
    I just bought a 2003 single cab basic Tacoma. The headlights didn't work (though the dashboard light responded) and the front marker light bulbs were burned out. I replaced the front marker bulbs, and now the headlights work. Does that seem right? Seems like a safety flaw to me to have headlights dependent on the health of marker light bulbs, but I"ve been wrong before, haha. The vehicle had a minor center front accident, according to carfax. I wonder if someone mis-wired in the repair.
    Update: Correction, only the high beams worked. I'll replace the headlamp bulbs to see if that solves it.
    Update2: Bulbs solved it. I love it when the simplest and cheapest solution works.
     
    Last edited: May 20, 2020
  2. May 17, 2020 at 10:19 AM
    #2
    Wyoming09

    Wyoming09 Well-Known Member

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    While the headlights and marker lights are controlled by the same switch.

    That is the only place they are in common two separate circuits .

    If you replaced marker light bulbs and that allowed the head lights to work you have other interesting problems

    Any fuses replaced that might have allowed the head lights to work

    your marker light bulbs can be removed and should not effect the headlights
     
    tacoma_ca likes this.
  3. May 17, 2020 at 2:03 PM
    #3
    tacoma_ca

    tacoma_ca Well-Known Member

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    If that happened to me I would take the marker lights out one at a time and watch what the headlights do to try to understand exactly what is dependent on what. If you keep seeing this as described, it is likely somebody messed with the wiring and you would want to straighten that out. You can find the factory wiring schematic on here
    if you look for it.
     

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