Any body have their license plate bulb housings installed backwards?

I doubt that they will try to stop you ONLY due to "insufficient rear license plate lighting", this is probably going to be a tact on to some other "reasons".

:thumb3:

Actually, it's on of the easiest things for cops to use as probable cause for a stop. Troopers here in Texas go after that as a way to initiate a stop.
 
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My LEDs are nice and bright.

4runner_020.jpg

I wanna know what brand Led's these are!!
 
No issue with it affecting the back-up camera at night.

Looks better with the lights pointed towards the lic plate. IMHO
 
Installing a CBI bumper this saturday, so ironically I'll actually be DISABLING the plate lights on my tailgate.
 
To OP:
Like all the rest of us, you made a possibly illegal modification to your 4R and Officer Friendly cited you for it. It's not Toyotas fault. Just buck up and fix it yourself or change back to original bulbs. Like my father used to say, (and quite appropriately in this case) "Don't poke the bear!" If you make mods, you must be willing to deal with the consequences that may arise. This is not meant to be mean spirited, just the reality that all of us face when we choose to make our vehicles unique. I may be in the same boat some day if for some reason my ham radio install begins to cause problems with the vehicle electronics.
 
Just a thought, since license plates are different all over the would (imagine the wide European plate), I would take a stab at this being a port installed option, and that being done by someone that didn't know the difference between right and left.
 
Just a thought, since license plates are different all over the would (imagine the wide European plate), I would take a stab at this being a port installed option, and that being done by someone that didn't know the difference between right and left.
Yes, that is correct, everyone should know that direction switches/flips at the Prime Meridian and at the 180th Meridian.
 
Mine face the same way. I have LEDs in there and it's bright as day when looking at my tag. You mentioned the type of LED being the one that has diodes all the way around and a few on top, but posted a pic of one with diodes only on top, which would produce a more focused stream of light instead of a broader stream.

The tinted cover could be causing an issue but if you change what I typed out you might have better luck (if for whatever reason you're attached to the plate cover).

If I didn't read the thread the right way, let me know but it looks like its the type of bulb you've put in the sockets.
 
I just reversed my license plate housings, so now left is on the left side
And right on the correct side also.
Put in LED's and now the light pattern is directed to the plate instead of the wider pattern ....
 
I agree those are backwards. It is odd that you have to disassemble whole tailgate to remove 2 cheap light bulb housings. I'll check mine but I remember on my 2004 there were 2 screws holding whole bulb housing. Remove screws, remove plastic glass, pull and remove housing while disconnecting electrical connector. I'll look in manual for this on 5th gen.
 
On my 2016 the lights housing are accessible after removing two screws no need to disassemble the tailgate.
I had to cut the wires close to the housing and solder a 6 inch wire extension on both side since there was not much length to play with in order to fit while reversed.
 
On my 2016 the lights housing are accessible after removing two screws no need to disassemble the tailgate.
I had to cut the wires close to the housing and solder a 6 inch wire extension on both side since there was not much length to play with in order to fit while reversed.

Were yours reversed as well?
 
Were yours reversed as well?

Yes they were , bulbs were oriented towards the tail lights instead of towards the license plate....maybe the idea is to be able to provide a wider beam so that a European type license plate is fully illuminated?
 
I had to change a bulb today, and noticed mine, too, were reversed.
There HAS to be some actual reason for this, no?

How hard is it to get the wire leads out of the housing to swap them?

Also, notice there is considerable char on the top side of the housings...
likely due to me running my lights 24/7...
Thinking I may affix some foil tape to the charred areas...
 

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