Blinker Bulb Burnout

I have burned out 4 bulbs from my front, driver's side, turn blinker in the past 3 or 4 months. They last a few weeks, then burn out. What should I check? 2015 Taco.

 

Sounds like your blinker fluid may be low.

But seriously, are you using OEM bulbs or just any off the shelf auto parts store brand? I'd double check to make sure that you're getting the correct bulb for the vehicle. You can check the fuse panel for a damaged fuse that may not be popped but stuck closed making the bulb filament the next weakest point. After that, I would check your connections at the light housings for evidence of arcing or burning.

-J

 

Are you using the correct 4157NAK bulbs?

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...57-na-bulbs-in-a-4157-nak-applacation.742457/

 

I'd say it's an oxidized bulb contact(s) on vehicle harness...post a pic of it.

 

I switched to synthetic blend, no more problems

 

China made bulbs are notorious for having un-supported filaments. My wife driving a rural mail route (some dirt and not so smooth roads) had a magnetic blinking light on car and kept burning out bulbs every few weeks. I switched to US made bulbs and no more problems.

 

Are you wearing latex gloves when you replace the bulbs? Don’t know if you need to for your particular bulbs but for most bulbs you should. The salts and oils on your fingers will damage most bulbs causing excess heat build up where you touched it and bulb failure. Change them and wear latex gloves, that may solve the problem.

 

If you are using the correct bulbs, then it sounds like a resistance issue.
Like stated above.

 

Look at the bulb socket as previously suggested. Also if there’s a connector, unplug it and look at that too. A little dielectric grease might help.

I have to change the older style bulbs with the single and double tits on a regular basis. Very often I’ll find the bulb socket black with carbon. So I keep a nail file together with my bulbs. It’s not a normal file, it’s more like a sharpening stone, works perfectly for scraping the carbon off. With the new style bulbs, you can’t really get in there to scrub it off. Doing so would probably make the bulb not make contact.

Looks similar to this.

$5 Rolabling Nail Art File Nail Buffer Manicure&Pedicure Tools Nail Pumice Stone Cuticle Pusher Nail Tools Strong Finger Nail Filler Coarse Nail File for Home and Salon Use(Size 2)

https://www.amazon.com/Rolabling-Bu...sprefix=finger+nail+file+stone,aps,242&sr=8-7

 

My truck is partial to the 3157NAK bulbs - for whatever reason...... The Krypton gas "K" is necessary to get the cooler running bulb. And for whatever reason the 4157 version is a really pale yellow instead of amber. Don't have any idea what that's about.