Hey guys, it seems I have a bad tail light relay or short somewhere, as the rear light circuit fuse is good, but my tail lights and rear marker lights don't come on, nor do the license plate lights on my new Westin rear bumper that was just installed. I just looked under the truck after lowering the spare tire, and I saw no evidence of rats having chewed any of the wires, so I'm now leaning more toward the relay being bad, as I've read they can go out in these old trucks.

I've seen the Standard brand tail light relay mentioned here, which is available at Rock Auto for cheap, but does anyone know how reliable they are? I just got new tires and wheels so I want to keep the truck for at least 10 more years. I'd also like to know if anyone can tell me where the tail light relay is located on this truck? One shop told me it's behind the gauge cluster. I can't find any photos to verify that though, so if anyone can post a link to the installed location of one I'd appreciate it.

A bit more concerning is the fact that my main output shaft seal is now leaking and needs replacing. I figured I may as well replace the clutch too since the tranny has to be pulled anyway, and I don't have the tools, experience, or place to do it. YotaShop.com lists the genuine Toyota seal, and shows the Aisin brand clutch kit. I don't know what brand clutch Toyota put on this truck at the factory, but I know the engine had some Aisin parts on it. Rock Auto has a better price on the Aisin clutch kit though.

I was also considering replacing the flywheel and shift fork dust boot. YotaShop lists this boot as well being the genuine Toyota part. The reason I emphasize this is I learned the hard way by experience that the rubber Toyota uses in their parts is far superior to some aftermarket brands. I had to have the two piece drive shaft balanced on my previous 79 Corolla, and I made the mistake of going with the aftermarket brand center bearing vs the more expensive Toyota one. In only about 2 years, while driving home on the freeway, I started hearing a loud rattling coming from under the car. It was the seal retaining ring of that center bearing that had come loose after it's rubber seal had worn. So naturally I am especially concerned about the quality of the main output shaft seal.

Am I going overboard, or being sensible? I don't drive the truck a ton, it's basically my grocery shopping vehicle. I just kind of cringed yesterday when I saw the dealerships no longer show ANY parts for these old trucks, but my main thinking is to get the high wear parts replaced while an expensive job like pulling the tranny is done.

 

Do your front marker and clearance lights work? If they do its not the relay. I suspect its the old problem a bad or no ground. Behind the passenger seat there is a connector,: I believe its a green wire which is the positive to the lights of yours that dont work...check for power there. The relay is up behind the instrument panel kind of above the parking brake handle...its a SOB to get at. The aftermarket relay is as reliable as any aftermarket part...if you can find an original one at a wrecker they usually are a free item. All vehicles of that era have interchangeable parts...I robbed a bunch of hard to find stuff off an old Landcruiser. Did the lights work before the Westin bumper was installed?

Your sure the output shaft seal is leaking? A leaking rear half moon seal in the cylinder head/ rocket cover can think you have this problem. Oil leaks out the back of this seal, drips down the block and then drips right at the small hole at the bottom of the bell housing, then when you see that, OMG my rear seal is leaking!. That rocker seal is a lot easier to do.

Any quality oil seal will work it doesn't have to be Toyota...avoid Chinese...brands like CR (Chicago Rawhide) or by any of the good bearing manufacturers ( NSK. SKF, etc) Dont limit yourself to autoparts stores as you're usually at the mercy of some high school student who barely qualifies as a lower primate.

Yup replace that shift fork boot you dont want a bunch of snot getting in there.

Dealerships don't have any parts????? If up here in Canada, aka the land of "don't have it or cant get it", have some parts for these I'm sure in the US of A you can get 'em. Two weeks ago I got the clearance light lenses for mine.

 

1. I'm not sure why most vendors that carry that aforementioned relay you say works adequately well would be calling it a "TAIL" light relay if the front lights don't work when it's bad. I'm not sure if the tail lights were working before the bumper was installed, I don't even recall when I checked them last. The shop that installed the bumper is trustworthy though, and they said they weren't working before it was installed. They also said my left brake light was out, which I verified. I haven't checked the front marker lights yet, but both rear turn signal lights work.

2. As far as the connector you mentioned behind the passenger seat, I've not heard anything about there being a wire for the tail lights there. I did put on some seat covers about a year ago though, which involved pulling out the seats. I'm taking it to an auto electric shop in about a week, I'll mention that to them. As I said I was told the relay is behind the instrument panel. I replaced the gauge cluster some time ago, so I know what a pain it is. I'm older now and going through tons of stress, so I'm not going down that road again.

3. The shop that put the bumper on is well known and reputable and does a lot of Toyotas, so when they told me the main seal is leaking, I didn't 2nd guess it. When I first got the truck I had it undercoated and they steam cleaned the engine too. There's never been a leak from the rocker cover seal at the back of the engine, but there's always been a very slow seepage of oil when the vehicle is running from the main seal area since I got it. That's why I knew this would happen eventually.

 

Whats in a name? That is what that relay is called, it could be called anything, but it is for ALL the clearance, marker and tail lights. I didn't say it works well, I said it works as well as any after market part part...some are good. some are bad. The connector is probably tucked behind the seat-belt retractor. If its not there some PO has monkeyed with it!

 

I already checked that connection behind the passenger seat. Wasn't sure of it's location, but yeah, the one near the seat belt is fine. I wasn't sure what connector you meant because I also found a loose wire on the floor, but it as far as I know was just one of the speaker wires for a stereo the PO was using.

The problem was fixed though by the shop I took it to. There was a blown fuse, and a bad left brake light bulb, but the rear harness was hanging low and may have shorted and blown the fuse, so they also fixed and tucked up the rear harness. All is good now and all lights are working. The job didn't take too long so didn't cost much.