tail light out warning indicator - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

bpaff · 12-27-2005, 12:14 PM

I have a 98 camry and just had the front and rear struts replaced. When I picked up the car and drove it a quarter mile, the tail light out indicator came on. I had never seen this before so I went back to the shop and asked what it was. He said it has to do with a brake or tail light being out, he also said all the light are on. He was busy with another customer so I drove home and checked it out as best as I could. I called the owner of the shop and he said they saw the warning light on but because the license plate lights were out he figured it had allways been on. I told him it hadn't and he said bring it back and we will replace the license plate bulbs. I went to a local gas station and bought 4 new bulbs, 2 for the license and 2 for spares. I replaced the first 2 then noticed the rear side marker lights were also out so I replaced them. Now all lights are working and the warning indicator is still on. Any suggestions?

Avalonman · 12-27-2005, 12:38 PM

Bad sensors? Not sure.

shapos · 12-27-2005, 12:42 PM

For whatever reason, it could be your 3rd brake light. I had the same thing happen to me. To my surprise that particular light has to be purchased from a dealer ($3.00+) and it has to do with the voltage back to the ECU.

Good Luck.

Spechtus · 12-27-2005, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shapos

For whatever reason, it could be your 3rd brake light. I had the same thing happen to me. To my surprise that particular light has to be purchased from a dealer ($3.00+) and it has to do with the voltage back to the ECU.

Good Luck.

I have the same problem: warning light is on, but no visible reasons (all lights work just fine). Could you please give some more details about 3rd brake light? Where it is located, etc?

Thank you!

Kep · 12-27-2005, 03:52 PM

The third brake light is the one in the back window. The warning light is for all the exterior lights of the car, brakes, signals, license plate, running lights and head lights. It took me a while to figure out my license plate had two lights and that I needed to replace one. The system works on circuit resistance. If there is too much corrosion it can trip the sensor even though the lights operate. It's a pain but take each bulb out, clean the bulb contacts and clean the socket contacts. While you're in there add a little of that white "electrical" grease to keep it from rusting up so quickly again.

Kep

bpaff · 12-27-2005, 08:22 PM

Thanks for all the help, I will try going thru all the bulbs to see if I can find it.

73sport · 12-27-2005, 10:27 PM

I was tracking down a leak in the trunk and found the sensor you are talking about. There may be one for the front too???

Pull the pad away on the left inner panel of the trunk and it is up by the gasket area towards the hinge.

Good luck,

Randy

***ASG14*** · 12-27-2005, 10:32 PM

I had that problem with my '92. Turns out the 3rd brake light bulb was working sporatically. All it took was 1 press of the brake then it did not work, and it would stay ont he entire drive weatehr or not it worked from there on. So it MAY be a bulb that is on it's way out.

Good luck.

Dave's · 12-27-2005, 11:19 PM

Have also experienced the 3rd brake light problem. It was slightly loose and burnt a bit. It would work but gave a false ECU reading. Believe the cover slides to the passenger side?

Avalonman · 12-29-2005, 12:32 AM

Why dont the 2002 Camrys have them?

internetautomar · 12-29-2005, 07:12 AM

Could the reverse lights trigger it?
mine has the light on, but all bulbs work except the reverse(haven't checked the high mount though)

***ASG14*** · 12-29-2005, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by internetautomar

Could the reverse lights trigger it?
mine has the light on, but all bulbs work except the reverse(haven't checked the high mount though)

Nope. My dad's Gen 3 wagon had a reverse light out a couple months ago and it had no effect on the indicator light.

Cyorke · 12-29-2005, 10:55 AM

Reverse lights will not cause the indicator to come on.

Also the indicator is only for the parking lights and brake lights. Unless they changed it inthe Gen4. My gen3 has had side markers out and license plate lights out and the indicator does not comeon. It will only come on when one of the 1157 or 3157 bulbs goes out. whether it be the brake or the tail light. It does not turn on when the turn signals go out, they will jsut flash very fast if this happens. The marker lights on the side do not cause it to come on either.

If all of your bulbs seem to be working then you will probably need to inspect the sockets and put some kind of dielectric grease on the bulbs where the insert nto the sockets. You may also want to check the grounds for the tail light assemblies. Sometimes they can work loose and will cause this problem. If you ever look at old Toyotas and the brake/tail lights do really wierd things when the brake is applied it is ususally because of a bad ground.

gr8hunsy · 12-29-2005, 11:24 AM

In my experiences, all the bulbs could be working, but if just one of those bulbs is going bad it can cause the indicator to come on. More often a bulb before a socket.

Cyorke · 12-29-2005, 11:30 AM

^^^^ yes youa re right. The filaments in the bulbs will deteriorate over time and can cause the sensor to think that one of the bulbs is bad. Unfortunately jsut by looking at the bulb it is hard to tell which one may have deteriorated to the point the sensor picks it up. Of course you can get bulbs pretty much anywhere for 1 dollar or less so it is not like replacing the bulbs is going to set you back a lot. Just your time for taking the tail lights out.