hello everyone wicked yota site.....just bought an 88 4runner... license plate lights do not work....one bulb filmint is burnt out...and the other one is fine...but not working....do both of them need to work....
i checked the harness that sits behind the window...but cant seem to accses the harness out side under the key switch tailgate trim piece....PITA...any sugestions would be great...
Okaay....found some info on getting the key switch trim peice off another PITA....still no working lights....but while i had the tail gate covers off i was able to locate two loose wires..one solid red, one solid black thicker gage wires any ideas.....

 

When I first got my 4runner the license plate light bulb was also burnt out. I went to Autozone and got the light bulbs. I remember getting it done very quickly. I think I just removed the plastic lens with a Philips screwdriver.

 

well, not sure if this is going to help or not, but on my son's the housings were pretty much gone..rusted and not much left. had been held in by some almost non-existent duct tape.
went to the store, bought some cheapo utility lights and switched them out.

see if this helps at all https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...lights-180328/

 

get one of these at any Autozone, Kragens, O'Reilly, etc



your red wire is the positive, black is negative and this light mounts using the license plate screws

 

thanks fellas......im from British Columbia (canada)....need these lights/or lights to be in working order to pass a B.C vehicle inspection...any idea were the red and black wires connect......i found a thread on here that some had labeled all the wires/and what there for... but not these two.....

 

got the lights figured out...was the wire harnes unfer the tailgate keyswitch trim peice ....have no idea were the red and black wires go.....rear window doesnt work from the push button....but works from the keyswitch

 

There is a switch inside the tailgate that says its closed, left hand side. If not closed properly or broken then only the key will work.

Black red is just positive negative, one to center and the other to the side of the socket.