LED tail light replacement - turn signals and reverse lights not working

[wheelds]

I have a 2008 SR5

I replaced my drivers side tailight with an OEM replacement one. Once the new one was installed my brake lights work but the turn signals and reverse lights do no work.

It is not the bulbs, I tested bulbs in the passenger side tail and purchased new ones.

It is not the light itself, same issue with the old tail light, and passenger tail.

when i hit the turn signal in the steering column it blinks rapidly, and front light blinks more rapidly - meaning the rear is not even getting power correct? like there is less resistence in the circuit?

Can anyone provide some insight as to what the issue is?

 

[wheelds]

nobody else has had a similar issue installing a new tail light?

 

[Love4myRunner]

LED turn signals need a resistor from what I understand in order to avoid the fast blinking. That's about as much as I know as far as the fast blinking goes. Personally I avoided LED turn signals because of that. As far as the lights not working its because you have the wired light in wrong if your tail lights are like mine that is. I think the wired one is the brake light? Can't remember at the moment what lights it is for sure but I hit the same issue one mine before when I blacked them out. You just need to replug the bulb (try turning it and plug it back in) that has the wire going to it because the contact points aren't feeding the other two lights. This is based off my 05 so I hope it makes since and helps you out.

 

[Tayzorz]

I'm having the same problem right now. Started up the truck this morning and my reverse lights and signal would not work. Brake lights are fine but nothing else.
Replaced the bulbs and nothing, fiddled with the wired light as well and nothing changed.
I checked the fuses and everything seemed to be okay, plus i believe the fuse for the passenger side is for the whole taillight itself so that means if it was blown all of the lights would be out.

 

[riceandpho]

make sure the bulb is fully seated and the socket is in good contact.

 

[kpatler]

make sure the bulb is fully seated and the socket is in good contact.

This. It's a harder turn than you might expect to fill seat and make good contact. Also, if you're using LED bulbs in the turn signal/reverse bulb locations, you will need a resistor to regulate voltage in order to get the blinkers to blink correctly. Check out superbrightleds.com for parts and search the forums for others who have done this mod.

 

[mole177]

i'm at the same problem.

except i tried everything to make the driver rear blinker

the driver's side just won't accept an led light as a blinker.

so in short, passenger side led blinker, driver side filament.

i'm going to pull the led on the passenger out. those load resistors create so much heat, it can burn your skin on contact if you have had the blinker on long enough.

i even tried replacing the blinker relay. the only one available is an 8-pin relay where as we have 12 pin relay. the 4 pins are for daytime running lamps. i thought i can modify the 8 pin to fit, which i did, but still didn't work.

 

[LTDSC]

only problem i had when installing the OEM LED tails was being dumb and forgot to twist on the socket right on each side. Itll twist on without being lined up. Its simple but easy to overlook.

 

[wheelds]

only problem i had when installing the OEM LED tails was being dumb and forgot to twist on the socket right on each side. Itll twist on without being lined up. Its simple but easy to overlook.

Yep you are correct. Thats why drinking and working on your car will get you. I just forgot to twist the bulb socket back in place :doh:

 

[anthro]

The wire ALSO screws in - it goes in the MIDDLE socket

I know this is an old thread but people might be reaching this when running into this same problem (as I did)...the thread never gave the EXACT answer to the problem I was having!

PROBLEM: REAR TURN SIGNAL AND BACK UP LIGHTS NOT WORKING - BUT BRAKE LIGHT IS WORKING

Based on my Internet search many of us have done the same stupid thing....we did not PAY ATTENTION when we UNSCREWED the WIRE CONNECTION to the taillight!

Perhaps like me you were replacing the ENTIRE taillight and moving the bulbs from the old taillight to the new. So you put a bulb in the turn signal (top) and you put a bulb in the back up light (bottom) and THEN...drum roll...you plug the wire back up the the taillight. HOWEVER YOU DIDN'T SCREW THE *WIRE PLUG ITSELF* BACK INTO THE MIDDLE SOCKET AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY. I don't know why but there is something strange that makes (some of) us think that plugging in the wire is all that's required. WRONG! The wire plug itself is like a bulb and it SCREWS INTO the MIDDLE SOCKET. IF YOU DON'T DO THIS THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL LIGHT UP BUT NOT THE TURN SIGNAL AND BACK UP LIGHT AND THE TURN SIGNAL WILL FLASH FAST ON THE FRONT BUMPER TURN SIGNAL LIGHT. I hope you are getting this. I spent hours trying to figure this out because no one explained this solution. God bless you and I hope you all arrive safely & gracefully to your final and eternal destination!

 

[acronin2]

I know this is an old thread but people might be reaching this when running into this same problem (as I did)...the thread never gave the EXACT answer to the problem I was having!

PROBLEM: REAR TURN SIGNAL AND BACK UP LIGHTS NOT WORKING - BUT BRAKE LIGHT IS WORKING

Based on my Internet search many of us have done the same stupid thing....we did not PAY ATTENTION when we UNSCREWED the WIRE CONNECTION to the taillight!

Perhaps like me you were replacing the ENTIRE taillight and moving the bulbs from the old taillight to the new. So you put a bulb in the turn signal (top) and you put a bulb in the back up light (bottom) and THEN...drum roll...you plug the wire back up the the taillight. HOWEVER YOU DIDN'T SCREW THE *WIRE PLUG ITSELF* BACK INTO THE MIDDLE SOCKET AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY. I don't know why but there is something strange that makes (some of) us think that plugging in the wire is all that's required. WRONG! The wire plug itself is like a bulb and it SCREWS INTO the MIDDLE SOCKET. IF YOU DON'T DO THIS THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL LIGHT UP BUT NOT THE TURN SIGNAL AND BACK UP LIGHT AND THE TURN SIGNAL WILL FLASH FAST ON THE FRONT BUMPER TURN SIGNAL LIGHT. I hope you are getting this. I spent hours trying to figure this out because no one explained this solution. God bless you and I hope you all arrive safely & gracefully to your final and eternal destination!

This is the key. I spent an hour before I realized this. :frusty:

 

[earthrealm]

I know this is an old thread but people might be reaching this when running into this same problem (as I did)...the thread never gave the EXACT answer to the problem I was having!

PROBLEM: REAR TURN SIGNAL AND BACK UP LIGHTS NOT WORKING - BUT BRAKE LIGHT IS WORKING

Based on my Internet search many of us have done the same stupid thing....we did not PAY ATTENTION when we UNSCREWED the WIRE CONNECTION to the taillight!

Perhaps like me you were replacing the ENTIRE taillight and moving the bulbs from the old taillight to the new. So you put a bulb in the turn signal (top) and you put a bulb in the back up light (bottom) and THEN...drum roll...you plug the wire back up the the taillight. HOWEVER YOU DIDN'T SCREW THE *WIRE PLUG ITSELF* BACK INTO THE MIDDLE SOCKET AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY. I don't know why but there is something strange that makes (some of) us think that plugging in the wire is all that's required. WRONG! The wire plug itself is like a bulb and it SCREWS INTO the MIDDLE SOCKET. IF YOU DON'T DO THIS THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL LIGHT UP BUT NOT THE TURN SIGNAL AND BACK UP LIGHT AND THE TURN SIGNAL WILL FLASH FAST ON THE FRONT BUMPER TURN SIGNAL LIGHT. I hope you are getting this. I spent hours trying to figure this out because no one explained this solution. God bless you and I hope you all arrive safely & gracefully to your final and eternal destination!

yeah, took me about 25mins to realize this!!!!, when i was doing my install last week, recalled seeing this issue, and came to update the OP. good you have posted the corect procedure.

also if you are running white leds, due to change in polarity they might not work..so you may need to remove just the bulb and interchange the sitting on the bulb holder

 

[04SR54me]

additional info

Okay, fixed the third brake light with new bulb. Then the drivers brake light went out, replaced that. So the only thing left is the reverse lights and directionals. Tested all the fuses inside car and no break in continuity.