ORB

I've spent the last couple of days searching various toyota sites (4x4wire, pirate google, ih8mud, and of course yotatech). I have found a couple of others who have had this problem but I've yet to find a solution. On 4x4wire (I think it was kyle 22r) who found a bad bulb, but my bulbs seem to be fine. Another suggestion was a bad ground, but I searched in the driver kick panel and found 2 grounds but they seemed fine. There is also some connection with trailer wiring being the cause of this but I don't even know what to look for. Here are my symptoms

-apply brakes parking lights off-dash lights up (inconsistant flicker)
-after applying the brakes for a while, the dash lights sometimes go back out (like everything is normal)
-turn on tail lights-they flicker slightly at first, then stay on

If anyone has suggestions or needs more info please let me know...

Thanks

TNRabbit

Has anything in the truck gotten wet recently? Fuse block? Have you run it thru deep water?

ac808m

I had a similar problem a few months back. The culprit was my trailer harness. Try pulling it if you can. If you have OEM wiring it should be as simple as uncliping the harness and reattaching your bulbs. Its worth a shot if you haven't already tried it.

ORB

Nope.

What bulbs am I reattaching?

rdlsz24

How's your alternator? When my electronics start acting wonky the alternator is the first thing I check.

Rob

04 Rocko Taco

Im with rdlsz24 here, I'd look to the alternator first.

ORB

Voltages seem fine, the alternator seems to be doing its job. Anything specific to check?

Yoda

OK, I'll see if we can figure this out.

When you step on the brakes and the dash lights come on.......do the outside park lights come on too?

Remove both rear lamp assy's and unplug the harness to them. If problem is gone, it was in one of the lamps/wiring/bulbs....reconnect 1 at a time to figure it out. Make sure you have the correct bulb in the stop/tail socket.

Disconnect the trailer harness (not always easy to do). When I worked at an auto electric shop, most problems like this were in the trailer towing harness.

Report back the results to the above

mr toytech

check the solder connection on the back of the brake light bulbs. the two contacts are probably melted together.

toyaholic

had similar problem on my 89 corolla. when i applied the brakes, all of the dash lights came on along with the marker lights in front. i accidentally replaced a dual element bulb with a single element bulb in the brake light assembly and it shorted the two contacts together and nearly ruined the wiring. i bought an electrical wiring diagram supplement to the fsm and was about to start digging through the wiring looking for problems before i realized that it was the bulb and it was a simple mistake. it's usually the simple stuff.

ORB

Thanks a lot for the replies!

Yoda-I'll get on it and report back...

mr_toytech-I'll check that when I do the above

toyaholic-same as above

ORB

Problem solved!

Using Yoda's suggestion, I was able to pinpoint the problem to the passenger tail assembly. Turns out the filaments in the brake/tail bulb were touching (which I feel like an idiot for missing).

Thanks to those who helped me out!

photoleif

precision strike! nice job yoda

Yoda

Just a logical troubleshooting sequence

NormanPH

i have this same problem... when i step on the brakes the instrument cluster turns on and so are the front park lights turns on my ford focus mk2 '07... i do have a tail light problem as well, when park lights are on, and i step on the brakes, tail light goes off and brake light dont light up as well... all bulb are good and correct type... will try your suggestion... maybe a bulb socket issue... will update you..

RAD4Runner

Bulb socket. wiring to ground.

NormanPH

i have resolve this issue on my vehicle... it is a faulty brake light socket.. not the bulb but the socket itself... hope this helps...