Anthony in Tahoe Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Hummmm cant figure it out! seems like it should be the ground. Has anyone totally rewired their rig's tail lights? Any advice? THANKS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linda s Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 If all the other lights work fine it could be the brake light switch near the brake pedal. http://www.jcwhitney.com/1988-1991-toyota-pickup/brake-light-switch/p2024950d2183y1988-1991j1.jcwx Linda S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skydancer2992 Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Sometimes the switch by the brake pedal can become misaligned. Press on the switch manually while an assistant watches the lights. Seemed like there was a pressure plate on the pedal that could be tightened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linda s Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Ya can't exactly press the switch on. When the brake pedal is depressed it releases the button on the end of the switch completely and that closes the circuit and makes the lights go on. You can remove the switch and then press down lights off, release lights on. I just replaced one on a Kia and the lower dash panel needed to come off to get to it. have no idea on a v6 toyota but from the one I posted I can tell they work exactly the same Linda S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony in Tahoe Posted September 6, 2013 Author Share Posted September 6, 2013 Hummmm cant figure it out! seems like it should be the ground. Has anyone totally rewired their rig's tail lights? Any advice? THANKS I replaced the brake light switch, from Napa, last week thinking that would fix everything! I was just thinking to get a temporary magnetic rear light set for towing and cut the lights off and re-run the harness as my permanent wires. http://www.harborfreight.com/12-volt-magnetic-towing-light-kit-69626.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony in Tahoe Posted September 6, 2013 Author Share Posted September 6, 2013 I replaced the brake light switch, from Napa, last week thinking that would fix everything! I was just thinking to get a temporary magnetic rear light set for towing and cut the lights off and re-run the harness as my permanent wires. http://www.harborfreight.com/12-volt-magnetic-towing-light-kit-69626.html Someone told me it could be a break in the wire but I may not be able to see it if the jacket is still in place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maineah Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 The tail light assemblies lack a lot they are really cheaply made and bad/dirty connection abound. The stop lights and the parking lights use the same bulb so if your parking lights burn brightly chances are the ground is fine if one works and the other does not that does not mean that the bulb is good many time people have been fooled by two bad bulbs. You can jumper the switch connection with a paper clip and if they work then it's either maladjusted or bad. Some coaches had fuses for the rear lighting also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waiter Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 I have a very stupid question (maybe). Did you check the bulbs?. also check the sockets. Mine were very poor, the little rubber thing in the bottom that presses the socket against the bottom of the bulb was real flaky. I finally said the heck with it a soldered LEDs directly to the wiring.John Mc 88 Dolphin 4 Auto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek up North Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 I'd suggest that your first purchase be a VOM/multimeter. It sounds like it will save you money on this and many other jobs with an older vehicle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanman Posted September 7, 2013 Share Posted September 7, 2013 Did you try the 4-way flashers? If they work wiring, etc is ok. If not start tracing the hot side wiring from fuse to switch to feed line to socket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero Posted September 7, 2013 Share Posted September 7, 2013 Did you try the 4-way flashers? If they work wiring, etc is ok. If not start tracing the hot side wiring from fuse to switch to feed line to socket. Don't the 4-way flashers work on the the directional signal lights and not the stop lights? Most 80s-90s Toyotas I've worked on had separate bulbs for the stop lights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maineah Posted September 7, 2013 Share Posted September 7, 2013 Yep that will only flash the signal lights not the stop lights. Took the US manufactures a long time to figure out that was a good ideal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero Posted September 7, 2013 Share Posted September 7, 2013 90s Toyota trucks are as thus: Headlights work via a headlight relay (four prong) Tailligights work via a taillight realy (three prong) 4-way flasher taps into the taillight relay to make the taillights flash. Stoplight has NO relay. Very simple wiring. Hot, ground, stoplight switch. When not working - check the bulb socket. Have someone close the brake switch and check for positive and negative at the bulb socket. Find out which one you are missing and fix the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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