buhrito

I have a '98 Tacoma (reg cab, 2.4L, 5spd)

The left tail light doesn't work (the right does). The brake lights, rear blinkers, and backup lights do work on both sides. I replaced the bulb and fuses and can't detect any loose wires (from what I can see). What's next?

Also, the front left blinker doesn't work properly. When I click the blinker switch down (and it "locks"), the arrow blinks really fast inside but nothing happens outside. However, if I manually toggle the blinker switch, it works.

Where should I start?

Thanks

yota8083

Does the blinker switch control the headlights as well? The way it sounds to me, if you are able to wiggle the blinker switch to make the blinkers work correctly then there is something in that switch that is broken or not working and it needs to be replaced. If your headlights run through that switch as well it could also be the cause of your running light problem on the left rear.

Thomas

buhrito

yes, it does control both. I read about some sort of combination switch (I believe its located in the steering column). Maybe this could be it? Any idea how hard this is to access?

Thanks

yota8083

The combination switch itself it attached to the steering column and is also what you click up and down for your turnsignals. I dont know on your particular truck but some are as easy as pulling the column covers and unscrewing it but some you have to pull the steering wheel so they can be more time consuming, though not overly hard if you have the right tools.

Hopefully someone will chime in that has done one on a truck like yours. I would almost bet it is that switch though.

Thomas

EnolaGaia

It's pretty hard to see how a combination switch fault could affect only one taillight. The combination switch (via a relay) activates the *entire* circuit, not each tail individually.

On the other hand, it's quite possible a combination switch fault explains the front blinker weirdness.

yota8083

Well if he has replaced the bulbs and fuses the only thing it could be is the combination switch or the wiring. And since he is going to need to replace the switch to fix the signal I would wait to see if that fixes the tail light before I started to trace wire. Though it was on a chevy truck(so it may be diffent on the toyota I dont know) I have seen just one light go out with the switch to blame.

Thomas

buhrito

So, tonight I traced a bunch of wires and the previously installed trialer hook-ups were causing the tail light problems. I cut those out and now I at least have the tail lights working again. It seems that I'll probably need to replace the combo switch to fix the blinkers. I need to order that and its a week out here so we'll see what happens when I get it.

yota8083

awesome, glad you got it figured out!

Thomas

BaysMtnTaco

Sorry this is my first post mods, been a lurker for a while now.

I just had the same problem with my truck. Dash lights went out, tail lights went out, parking lights went out. But my rear left turn signal was STUCK ON.

After replacing bulbs, going through about 10 fuses, and a new flasher relay, i figured it had to be a short somewhere on the frame. But after a call to my local auto-electrical guy, he said it was the COMBINATION SWITCH.

My truck does have trailer hook ups in the rear.

So is it the combo switch, or the trailer wiring?

Thanks guys, (love the site btw, yall have helped me out multiple times.)
Ryan

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

Start with disconnecting the trailing wiring harness and see if that helps.