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Topic ClosedTail light issues

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pnwcamper View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Tail light issues
    Posted: 06 Apr 2016 at 9:15am
I have a 2014 177 and my left tail light is not working properly. The running lights work fine on all lights (including the left side) but the left turn signal doesn't. When the running lights are (off) the left turn signal works but is very very weak. All other lights work fine. (The left turn signal on the truck works fine).

I'm not sure if it is a wiring issue or the entire left rear light needs replacing.

I was unsuccessful when attempting to take off the rear reflector to get to the LED bulb, they have it stuck/glue on pretty well.

Any one else had to replace the rear turn signal lights?

Thanks
2014 R-Pod 177
2009 Toyota Tacoma Access Cab 4.0 V6
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john in idaho View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Apr 2016 at 10:06am
You might try squirting some "Electronics Parts Cleaner " -from NAPA - on the contacts of the plug-in to the tow vehicle - including the tow vehicle.  I would doubt that the problem is the LED bulb.  
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JandL View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Apr 2016 at 10:49am
The stop, tail, turn lights are sealed units, no way to get inside. Are the brake lights on the left side weaker? The turn and brake lights should be the same brightness.
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pnwcamper View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Apr 2016 at 11:01am
JandL, just checked and you are correct, the brake lights are also weaker.

john in idaho, have not had a chance to try your idea but will hopefully try later today. Thanks.
2014 R-Pod 177
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JandL View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Apr 2016 at 12:17pm
The LED lights take a voltage between 9-14 Volts to operate. There is a regulator in the light that drops it to 6-9 Volts that way voltage fluctions don't affect the lights. If something is wrong with the circuit inside the light there is not much you can do. The circuit controls the brightness of stop-turn and tail
JandL
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pnwcamper View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Apr 2016 at 1:23pm
JandL, thanks. When you mean there is nothing that can be done, I assume the entire tail light could be replaced correct?
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JandL View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Apr 2016 at 1:54pm
Yes the whole light is replaced. If you have a volt meter to check what is going to the light. I can access my light thru the rear storage pass thru. You have to remove the panel protecting the back of the light.
JandL
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pnwcamper View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Apr 2016 at 10:51am
Tail light issue update...

I had my local mechanic take a look and he checked to make sure there was a full 12 volts making it to the my left turn signal. All checked out ok so his diagnoses is the LED tail light needs to be replaced, which I have not done yet. I guess LED lights are rare to have issues especially since my R-Pod is only a 2014 but it happens.

Electrical wire is not my strong suit so to you guys that are more knowledgeable does this sound correct?

Thanks,

Don
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Retroactive View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Apr 2016 at 11:55am
LEDs are generally manufactured in China, and their quality is often suspect. Not really the fault of FR, that is where the LEDs come from and a lot of Chinese factories only care about throughput metrics. Things like household LED bulbs are very reliable now, but the low cost ones used in exposed weather situations like tail lights can still have much higher failure rate.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Apr 2016 at 3:14pm
I'm a corporate jet mechanic and even the ones for aircraft fail more often then they should.  You mentioned that you have 12 volts of power, have you checked to make sure that the light is grounded properly?  Along with power it has to have a good path to ground.  Here in New England trailer grounds tend to corrode where they are screwed to the frame.
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