General Electrical & Lighting Related Topics Ask here for electrical, wiring, and lighting info for your rig that could apply to all years
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Tail light wiring question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 04-16-2013, 05:15 PM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Josh_Br's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NW PA
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Tail light wiring question

Hello,
My truck is a 1990. It has a wooden bed that still uses the original tail lights. I've begun building a new bed and want to use new tail lights. I've got some that are the same style as a trailer or a Jeep Wrangler.

I was checking out the wiring yesterday. The stock Toyota lights have a two filament bulb for tail lights and brake lights, then single filament bulbs for reverse lights and turn signals. The new tail lights only have a two filament bulb that would be for tail lights, brake lights, and turn signals, and then a single filament bulb for reverse lights.

How can I wire the new tail lights so the two filament bulb will work for tail lights, brake lights, and turn signals? I believe the brake light filament will need to blink off and on to act as the turn signal, so I don't suspect this is as easy as just running all of those wires into that one bulb.

Thank you!
Josh
Old 04-16-2013, 06:43 PM
  #2  
Registered User
 
justin_4runner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: tacoma wa
Posts: 1,295
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
you will have to install a converter to make the brake,stop,turn lights to work right, and then just run the reverse as normal...


http://www.jegs.com/i/Curt+Hitches/2...FaaDQgodA0sAjg
Old 04-16-2013, 11:36 PM
  #3  
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
wyoming9's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: I live in New Tripoli Pa out in the woods
Posts: 13,381
Received 99 Likes on 86 Posts
Red face

It might just be easier to run a second light for your turn signal.

That is what I did because I just did not want the hassle of using a trailer converter .

Someone had did a real hack job putting one of those on that got real expensive to repair all the damage and get things working again .
Old 04-17-2013, 03:47 AM
  #4  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Josh_Br's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NW PA
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Great - thanks guys. I believe I will try the converter route, and will proceed with caution
Old 04-17-2013, 04:59 AM
  #5  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Josh_Br's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NW PA
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by justin_4runner
you will have to install a converter to make the brake,stop,turn lights to work right, and then just run the reverse as normal...


http://www.jegs.com/i/Curt+Hitches/2...FaaDQgodA0sAjg

I took the info you provided and did some additional searching, and found this: http://www.thehitchstore.com/3-to-2-...er-p-1705.html

Sweet
Old 04-25-2013, 03:32 PM
  #6  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Josh_Br's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NW PA
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I wired things up last night. It mostly worked, but not completely. There were these two issues:

1) The turn signals worked fine, until I pressed the brake pedal. If a turn signal is on when braking, the signal starts blinking fast (like they do when one bulb is out). Then when I let off the brake, the signal slows back down. Not a huge problem, but not what I was shooting for.

2) The four way flashers don't work in the rear at all, unless I press the brake pedal. Then they flash like normal. I don't think this will be kosher at the truck's next inspection.

Any ideas on how to remedy these issues? Other than these things, everything worked well.

Thanks
Old 04-25-2013, 11:04 PM
  #7  
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
wyoming9's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: I live in New Tripoli Pa out in the woods
Posts: 13,381
Received 99 Likes on 86 Posts
Red face

Sounds like your converter is not working like it should .

Then remember your brake and turnsignal are now the same blub so things will be different

That is why I always use a stand alone turn signal light.

Good luck:jessica::jessica:
Old 04-26-2013, 04:01 AM
  #8  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Josh_Br's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NW PA
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Maybe this is a "you get what you pay for" since I bought that cheap converter. It is a Curt though... Anyhow, last night after work I did pick up a pair of stand alone tail lights. Wasn't my original plan, but I'd rather do it that way than have some flaky setup not behaving as it should. Thanks guys
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
smthwsn357
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners
14
12-04-2023 02:08 AM
ashersullivan88yota
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners
24
01-18-2022 05:37 PM
Johntom240
General Electrical & Lighting Related Topics
7
07-13-2015 12:18 AM
madxman21
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners
2
07-09-2015 10:26 AM
colinmil
Newbie Tech Section
2
07-06-2015 04:03 PM



Quick Reply: Tail light wiring question



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 04:45 PM.