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Brake Light Out, But Not The Bulb... :(

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Old 12-04-2006 | 12:33 PM
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Default Brake Light Out, But Not The Bulb... :(

Hope this is the right forum...


I have an issue with my taillights. The passenger side brake light seems to not be working.

Thought it was a blown bulb at first, but then I noticed when I hit my alarm the light blinked... so the bulb is good, which means it's a power issue...

Checked the fuses, none appear blown...


I have to bring it in for it's 30k this week, so I figure if it isn't soemthing "easy" I'll have them do it... But still if it's something I'm just overlooking I'd preffer to fix it myself.

Any ideas?
Old 12-04-2006 | 07:00 PM
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Have you checked to make sure the plug going into the tail light housing is fully clicked together and check with a test light for juice at the light socket when the pedal is depressed? If that all checks out I would let the dealer mess with it. You may have a short farther upstream.
Old 12-04-2006 | 08:03 PM
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I haven't tried switching the bulb for the simple fact that when i click the alarm the taillight blinks... So it can't be a blown bulb.

I'm assuming it must have soemthing to do with power to the light itself.

Is there only one fuse for the brake lights? It looks like there is, but maybe I overlooked something.
Old 12-04-2006 | 08:07 PM
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Make sure it is not a double filament bulb as the alarm may be only turning on the parking lights and not the brake light bulb filament.
Old 12-04-2006 | 08:30 PM
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Never assume anything when it comes to electronics. Use a test light and have someone apply the brakes and check for power starting at the bulb socket and work your way back from there. It's gotta be something simple.
Old 12-04-2006 | 08:35 PM
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Hrmm.. good tip on the never assume thing.

I'll give it a try. Thanks!
Old 12-04-2006 | 08:44 PM
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That is what the dealer will prolly do. So if you don't want to risk damage from the stealership I'd try checking it myself first then as a last resort take it in under warranty. You might luck out and find something simple. Good luck and keep us updated on what gets found either way.
Old 12-04-2006 | 10:03 PM
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Yeah and dealers don't work for free MOST of the time!!!
Old 12-04-2006 | 10:03 PM
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Yeah and dealers don't work for free MOST of the time!!! check the grounds.
Old 12-04-2006 | 10:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Jan06xB
Yeah and dealers don't work for free MOST of the time!!!
Agree. They get paid by Toyota for warranty work. Even when they don't know what they are doing.
Old 12-04-2006 | 10:43 PM
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Hah! Thanks for the tips guys!!!

Replacing the bulb did the trick. Turns out it was a dual filament!
Old 12-04-2006 | 11:25 PM
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Great, glad you got r done without having to resort to a stealership visit.
Old 12-05-2006 | 12:49 AM
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Lucky you - my buddy with a tC got both low beams out and asked the dealer where he bought the car how much to replace "both headlights" $20 per light and $20 labor per light . . . $80 total . . . he replaced the bulbs for $9 each in 30 seconds having never done it before going slow and being careful.
Old 12-05-2006 | 03:02 AM
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I'm in the wrong profession man...

80 bucks... All it really takes is a tug a twist a push and then another twist and you've replaced the bulb. :p

In anycase yeah I'm very glad I didn't have to resort to stealership...

I went once a while back because I figured I'd use one of my free oil changes, and noticed that apparently they "forgot" somehow to put an air filter in the little filter area behind the glovebox... So I told them they should put one in...

Then I get a bill for it... "Uhhh dude... you guys owe me a filter, you never put one in in the first place..."

"Yeah, but you would have needed a new one by now anyway..."

I got tired of arguing his circular logic.
Old 12-05-2006 | 03:09 AM
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nooo they don't come with that filter "cabin filter" I went through that at the advice from a buddy that convinced me to get an xB. I asked the saleman when I bought mine they didn't know about the cabin filter and there are two of them - the fresh air and the recirculate filter.
Old 12-05-2006 | 05:26 AM
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Originally Posted by Gamecat
"Yeah, but you would have needed a new one by now anyway..."

I got tired of arguing his circular logic.
They are great at that game. I think they have a class to teach that. It's called Toyota circular logic argue with the customer 101
Old 12-05-2006 | 12:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Jan06xB
nooo they don't come with that filter "cabin filter" I went through that at the advice from a buddy that convinced me to get an xB. I asked the saleman when I bought mine they didn't know about the cabin filter and there are two of them - the fresh air and the recirculate filter.
Is this the same on an XA?

Any no one bothers to mention this? Even though the manual says you shouldn't operate the A/C without it?
Old 12-05-2006 | 01:37 PM
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Here is the recommended second source at a better price link . . . looks like the xA and xB and Echo use the same filters. If you take out the glove box or open it and look behind it you should see black semicircular flaps which move when the key is on (engine run) and you move the recirculate lever back and forth - the flaps are motorized - yeah more complexity. One filter snaps on the outside face and the other slides into a slot behind the rectangular cover above the recirculate air intake flaps.

http://www.brandsport.com/toy-88568-52010.html
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