My friend owns a Scion tC 2010, and failed inspection in the state of Virginia. She was told this was because the center rear tail light, aka as Third Rear Tail Light, located on the hatch, isn't working.
Our Questions:
1. Where can I look up the law online to find out for SURE if this light is Mandatory for passing inspection in the State of Virginia?
2. She was quoted a price of $100 to $300 to fix this. Sounds like a whole lot of money to replace a light bulb, but looking online, this does sell for around $100, which seems insanely expensive.
3. Is there a source of inexpensive replacements AND a source of very-explicit illustrated replacement installation instructions? Neither of us have any real experience working with car wiring.

Thank you.

 

Its actually a led brake light, so no easy bulb to replace. If some of the leds are you then you can either buy some superflux leds and resoldier it back on, or buy a whole new brake light. Oznium or Mengmotorsports carry them, and it should run about $100 or so. But if the whole light is out, you should check the wiring or fuse to see if you blew something. hopefully its a fuse, it'll save you alot of money. but check your manual to see which fuse.

 

Thanks. This is not my car, it belongs to a friend. I have not looked at the problem yet, just got the news via phone today that it failed inspection.

I downloaded a PDF of the owner's manual, and there does not appear to be any information about how to replace the fuses, and no chart showing which fuse controls what. I searched Google extensively to find this chart, no luck. MAYBE it will be printed on the underside of the fuse box cover, if we are lucky.

I came across a website called "carcarekiosk.com" that supposedly has video showing exactly how to do this on this exact car! I was very excited until I discovered that only the first two steps of the video will play, the others won't play.

http://www.carcarekiosk.com/video/20...er_brake_light

I have no electronic tools, and have no clue how to test to see if there
is any faulty wiring.

Thanks.

 

Let me check which fuse it is when I get home later today and I'll let you know. Don't worry I don't have electrical tools either. Is the whole light not working or some part of it light up?

 

Thank you! As I said, this is not my car, and I have not looked at it yet.
Belongs to an ex-girlfriend.
I (finally) got the video to play on the Carcarekiosk website, and it advises that there should be a fuse chart in the owner's manual. Well, there isn't in the PDF owners manual that I downloaded, but we'll take a look in the glove box and see.

Worst case scenario, I'll just yank each fuse in turn and look for one that is obviously burnt. I think a box of variety fuses goes for around $15, so that would be a very cheap fix indeed, and make me something of a hero if this works, lol.

 

If i remember right, the fuse for the third brake light is the same one used for all of the brake lights.
If it was the fuse then none of the brake lights would be working.

If the third brake light is out you have to change out the whole thing for a new one. Or As said before, it is a row of LEDs and you have dremel open the case and solder in new LEDs then glue the case back together again.
You have to remove the plastic panels on the hatch and then unscrew a few bolts and the hatch garnish will come off and the light is also held on by double sided foam tape in addition to two bolts

The videos on the link you posted have nothing in common with changing out the third brake light in a tC

 

It's not the fuse, these are very famous for going bad I've replaced several myself at my work, and yes it will fail VA state inspection. If your friend wants it replaced for a cheap price i can help them out just shoot me a p.m. im near the local Richmond area

 

Why would not having this 3rd brake light cause you to fail an inspection?

 

Because its the law, any car manufactured for 1968 and up must be required to have a third brake light in the state of VA. All states have different laws and regulations and some states dont have inspections

 

if its a 2010 then replace under warranty. 3 yr 36000 miles.

 

dunno if the warranty would cover lights if they are a "wear" item?

 

Lights are covered for 3 years or 36k miles whichever comes first

 

Seriously? My dealer was going to charge me over 100$ for the third brake light, with warranty. I'm glad I opted not to buy it so hopefully now I can have them replace it for free.

 

They shouldn't charge you if you are in warranty, unless you have modified it or broke it yourself that would be the only way they would be able to charge you