My Tacoma continuously blows the tail light fuse. ANy idea why or where to start looking?

I have owned this Toyota Tacoma for about 4 months. Just this week it started blowing tail light fuses and won't quit. I do not run this truck off road,I use it mainly for transportation to and from the job. Any idea where to start looking for a problem?

 

Got the tow package? Maybe some damage to the trailer plug or harness causing a short?.

 

Have you ever removed the tail lights?

 

I'd remove the taillight assembly and look for any loose wiring. Remove the bulbs from the sockets and examine the sockets and bulbs. Look under the truck for any signs the wiring harness running from the cab to the rear has been compromised.

 

You can replace the fuse with a light bulb or an old seatbelt buzzer. when you find the short the light will go out.........open the sockets and remove the bulbs
check the towing plug if you have one. good luck.....

 

Just a little info; there is usually electrical grease that's used where the bulb connects. If its absent, then it can cause the bulb to short out. If you replaced a few of them, I'm sure there is none of that grease in the location.

For reference, I had an old chevy that did the same thing your describing, I put that grease in there, never have a problem again.

Just a thought, hope you get it sorted out!

$10 Permatex 22058 Dielectric Tune-Up Grease, 3oz. - High Performance Dielectric Grease Used To Protect Terminals, Spark Plugs, Wiring And Other Electrical Connections Against Salt, Dirt, And Corrosion

https://www.amazon.com/Permatex-22058-Dielectric-Tune-Up-Grease/dp/B000AL8VD2 <----link for reference to product.

 

Sounds like a loose wire causing a short. Any aftermarket wiring mods? If something has been removed the normal practise is to just cut wires and leave them hanging. Crappy workmanship.

 

Too much dirt/grime on the connectors can also cause it short.

 

Mine started doing this too. After I switched to led. But the first bulb lasted about 5 months before it blew, now the second lasted about 2 weeks. The 3rd lasted a day

 

Had the same problem. The harness that connects to the tow connector was shot. And very dirty...

 

Which fuse/amperage is blowing?? Is the blown fuse "vaporize" or just burned open?

I'm looking at a 2006 wiring diagram. Remember to check the 3rd stop light on your cab. You may want to pull this to inspect as well.

In summary - the power runs through a 10A brake fuse to brake switch on top of brake pedal. Then it branches to two places - the VSC/brake control relay which I'll ignore for now - and also from the brake switch directly to the two rear stop lights AND the 3rd stop light. 10a is a decent amount of power so I'd be looking at for a wire shorting to frame.

 

it been doing that to me burn my fuse. since I cut off my towing Plug .because inside was all rusted out . I even unplug my harness just before the y .and I still burn fuse. any suggestion

 

Put a bigger fuse in it!








Jk don't do that its a bad idea, check the wiring for the lights, could be a bare wire touching the frame somewhere.

 

If it's the trailer wiring - I just but new trailer wire bundle and re run new wire. USe the old wire to pull the new wire flat through. Which fuse in blowing ??

 

OP, what did the problem and solution end up being? Having Same issue on my 2007 tacamo. Fuse just blows everytime. Brake light and turn signals work fine, but not tail light.

 

If you have a Towing Package.... Put a test light in place of the blowing fuse. It should light up if there is a short.. Then, Un Plug the Trailer Plug Connector near the spare tire... If the light goes out you have have found the short. If not Keep Looking.. Unplug each tail light one connector at a time.... I have seen bad light bulbs blow fuses.. The Filament leans over internally causing a short... (ie. Made in China Bulbs and YES Toyota Uses Chinese Bulbs from the factory. I almost fell over when changing my Headlight on a 2018 4Runner and it found was made in China...Damn it.. makes me wonder what else is on that truck I need to worry about.. ) ...

I do have a more drastic and dangerous method to find shorts but will save it for later...

Please post back and let us know what you find..

 

If you have an aftermarket bumper that required different plate lights check those too. Had the same problem a month ago and a worn down wire going to the plate lights was the culprit.

 

On my third gen I had a similar issue with constantly blowing fuses after I was at the boat launch pulling my boat out and didn’t have my trailer wires unplugged while the trailer was submerged. I had LED bulbs in the license plate lights and after chasing the issue I determined that one of those bulbs was fried and causing a short. I’d vote for a bulb issue somewhere causing a short like others have suggested. Get some spare fuses and start unplugging stuff and re-plugging in stuff to chase down the issue. Good luck!

 

Anyone got any other ideas what to unplug to check? I've done both tail lights the trailer wiring harness, the backup lights by the license plate, even did the DRLs (not sure if that even has anything to do with it but it blows when I flip the DLRs on)??