The Toyota Landcruiser Owners Club

[Phil4108]

Bit of a puzzler.Brake light works .Tail ligjht works.But brake and tail together theres nothing.But theres still voltage to the unit.Im baffled.
I'd be grateful for anybodies thoughts ? Thanks in advance.

[Google]

[modvrs]

In my experience dodgy tail light activity is usually traced to a poor earth connection. Could be something more complicated of course but I'd check the earths first.
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1997 Toyota Land Cruiser Colorado 3.4VX

[Phil4108]

Thanks mate that what I'm thinking especially as theres voltage where there should be.The earth seems the likely culprit.I'll have another play over the weekend

[MikeJak]

I had the same issue on my 90 when I bought it, found that the earth wire was cut from rubbing. I think it made enough contact from either filament but not enough for both filaments in the bulb to work at the same time.
I ended up changing both light units with some from e bay. A bit plasticky but have been solid, 18£ each. They are much brighter then the (aged) original units.

[Phil4108]

Thanks Mike.I 'll let you know when I've addend a new earth.

[Phil4108]

And sadly my new earth wasn't a succes.Maybe time for auto electrician

[modvrs]

The only other thing I can think of is a corroded bulb holder, I had this problem on a trailer recently where the bulb holder just wouldn't make a decent contact with the bulb casing. If you've got 12v at the relevant contacts and a decent earth it should work. I use a test lamp (an old headlamp bulb with a couple of flyleads on it) for testing this sort of stuff rather than a multimeter as the meter often says there's 12 volts as it only needs a few milliamps but when you put a load on it with the test lamp drawing 4 amps or so there's not enough to light the bulb due to a poor connection or bad earth. I guess you've tried a couple of different bulbs just in case.
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1997 Toyota Land Cruiser Colorado 3.4VX

[diggerdave]

Very common for the rear bumper units to fail. They're in a very vulnerable position and all th eroad dirt gets thrown straight at them. Replace both units is the simplest solution.
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1997 KZJ90 3.0d, 2" suspension lift, 235/85/16 Cooper STT Pros. 217k hard miles

[Phil4108]

Its a new unit because the old one was rotten.I've got a few ideas to try yet but it will be later in the week now.Thanks very much for all your suggestions

[modvrs]

I'm sure I've read somewhere that some non-OEM units are wired incorrectly out of the box but you'll probably tell us that you bought a Toyota one.
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1997 Toyota Land Cruiser Colorado 3.4VX

[Phil4108]

Nope I bought an aftermarket one.More investigation needed I think.Can you remember where you read that?

[modvrs]

http://www.tlocuk.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=18615&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=60

last comment on page 5 of the thread refers to Millners supplied lights
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1997 Toyota Land Cruiser Colorado 3.4VX

[locodriver65]

Hi Guys

On my LC I had the same problem with mud etc in the wiring.

I removed the rear bumper repaired the lights and wiring, then made up two aluminium boxes to  cover them so the weather and mud is kept out. That was done about 10 years ago.

No problems since.


Regards

Paul

[Phil4108]

Thanks all for the help.I've just received a replacement unit from Milners as they think the first unit may be incorrectly wired.I shall try the replacement and update.Thanks again.

[Phil4108]

And after all that.......it was a bad earth.Thanks for all youre suggestions :