LED Tail Light

[Bamaluver]

Over the years, I've had great luck (knocking on wood) with my 2006 4Runner. Last week, when my passenger brake light went out, I went to two different shops trying to replace the "bulb". They were both a bit bewildered when they couldn't find a bulb to replace. Called my local Toyota dealer (where I purchased the car) and the parts guy assured me they had a "bulb" replacement. So, I went today & insisted that he show me where the bulb goes (yes, I'm a female, so I think I caught him off guard). He showed me a chart and I told him according to two mechanics, there is no place for a brake bulb. He looked surprised & called the head of the parts dept. He was also puzzled & actually went to the stock shelf & pulled a new tail light off the shelf & opened the box. That's when I found out the brake light is housed inside the LED Tail Light (good grief). The dealership wanted $180 for one LED Tail Light.

Question: What other lights are housed in the LED Tail Light (that I can't change with a bulb) and will I have any problems if I purchase an OE Tail Light as a replacement (similar to this one on Ebay ... New Tail Light Taillight Taillamp Brakelight Lamp Passenger Right Side 4 Runner | eBay? Guess I was surprised to see such a wide range of pricing. Thank in advance for any advice you may have.

 

[MONTYMTB]

I have no experience with it, but if I remember correctly there are several LEDs on each side in the brake lights on the later 4th gen Runners. If it isn't working at all, I doubt that it just "went out" like you would think a traditional bulb would do. I'm guessing that there's something else going on here, hope someone here with some knowledge can help.

 

[Jagerzel]

You need to turn on your head lights and see if the taillights come one. That will tell you if all the leds are burnt out. lights or if just when you hit the brake it doesn't work. More than likely the taillight is good. You have another probelem

 

[swapmeet]

. Thank in advance for any advice you may have.

Ok... So it's unlikely that the "LED's" are bad. Could be a fuse, could be corrosion in the connection. But of all the things to be bad, the actual LED array in the housing would be the last thing I would suspect.

First, I would pull the access panel and disconnect the plug that goes to the light (it twists and locks) inspect the little spring loaded pins. Maybe bend them down a little to increase the contact pressure. I fixed a turn signal issue by doing that.

Do you know how to work a test light? Do you know someone who can? You can quickly rule out the LED if you have one.

Lastly, if you want to buy a new housing, I highly recommend OEM or a certified replacement part. I bought a housing/light on amazon for ~$80 and it's not OEM quality.

I would implore you to trouble shoot this, figure it out. Don't fulfill the typical female stereo type!!

We can help!

 

[yosh2000]

crazy it took 3 different places and 4 different personnel to tell you you have LEDs in your tails...especially 2 at toyota!! any halfway competent car guy should have been able to tell just by looking at them!

do the LEDs light up at all? if you turn on your headlights, do they light up? when you press the brake, do they light up? of the answer is no to both, i would look for a loose connection, or possible fuse (not sure if there is a specific tail fuse). LEDs just dont "go out" like a halogen bulb. there is something else going on there. especially if all 16 of the LEDs went out at once. since the brightness (tail/brake) of the LEDs are just controlled by resistors, you should not have one without the other.

hope that helps.

also, if you have to replace it, get OEM. as others stated, non OEM stuff is just not up to par. i see all kinds of guys running egay LED tails and half the LEDs are burned out because they were not properly regulated or have proper load resistors.

 

[Bamaluver]

All the other lights in the LED panel seem to work fine except the brake light. The brake light in the left LED works as well as the "third" light. In fact, since I have no passenger brake light, I've made sure my lights are on -- even during the day since the panel does light up.

Obviously, I should have found a harder piece of wood to knock on last night. When I got in the car this am, my drivers window won't roll up or down. The motor sounds as though it's trying - but the window's not budging. I can roll all the other windows up/down with my window control - but not the drivers side window.