Shop Discount Tail Light Bulbs

Sounds like a partially open power feed wire or connection; that when the bulb is installed and a load put on the circuit (lights turned on), something is going open. (Loosing connection)
Maybe try using a test light for the testing of the circuit; why I say this is that a high impendence voltmeter will not apply a load on a circuit; it measures potential voltage on a circuit but does not take anything away from the circuit. A test light uses current flow to light its bulb; this current flow will apply load.
Have the test light lead clipped to a known good ground. With the probe start at the socket’s tail light to bulbs contact. If the light doesn’t light move to the back of the socket and test the (I believe) green wire, leading into the socket. Keep moving away from the socket until you can get the test light’s bulb to light. Once there you’ve found the problem; it could be a corroded wire, where the insulation has become damaged allowing the copper wire to rot.
If by chance the test light does light at the sockets contact with the bulb removed; try reinstalling the 1157 bulb and then test the green wire. The test light bulb by itself may not be enough load on the circuit to cause whatever to go open.
I don’t think the problem will be to far away from the socket; because you said all other tail lights are working; this same green wire feeds all of the rear tail, marker and license plate lights.
You may end up probing into the actual wire with the test light probe; if so, make sure you reinsulated the puncture holes with a bit of silicone.

Dan.

A+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++. Mr. Dan. What can I say except - "PERFECT". I followed your Direction word for word and it went exactly as you said. There is a connector just inside the body (behind removable jack panel) about 8 to 12 inches away. The Green wire had a bad connection on the opposing side. I securely repaired the connection and siliconed my test spots . I went when my test light nearly blinded me where the wire could take the load. I rely heavily on my multi-meters for testing. I had to make up a test light from and old car socket and bits of wire. I'm going to buy a decent test light now (Thanks to you). You light up my tail light, da da da da. Thank you so much - No tickets for the 274000 mile corolla today! Thanks Again, Carl.

Hi There!

Im new in this site!

What can I say except - "PERFECT". I followed your Direction word for word and it went exactly as you said. There is a connector just inside the body (behind removable jack panel) about 8 to 12 inches away. The Green wire had a bad connection on the opposing side. I securely repaired the connection and siliconed my test spots Cool. I went Wink when my test light nearly blinded me where the wire could take the load. I rely heavily on my multi-meters for testing. I had to make up a test light from and old car socket and bits of wire. I'm going to buy a decent test light now (Thanks to you). You light up my tail light, da da da da. Thank you so much - No tickets for the 274000 mile corolla today!

Thanks!


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Open hatch. Theres an access hole inside towards taillight. Unscrew plastic knob by hand. Along side of taillight -(outside of car)- in the drip rail- there is a philips head screw. Undo this and pop taillight assembly out. Turn bulb holder to remove. Reverse process to install.

Hi Tom thanks for getting back to me.

I'll check that when I get out of work tonight, I wish they didn't have the fuse block under the dash, what a pain to get at.

thanks again

dom...

Hey - The engineers get paid well to place things so you have to stand on your head to do anything!

Point is if no power is at the correct fuse then we gotta find out why,

T

The fuse for the tail lights should be in the box under the hood.
That fuse supplies power to the tail relay in the junction block under the dash. Is that what you are checking that has no power? That fuse does supply power for both the control & load sides of the relay........

Hi thanks for the reply,

I was checking the fuse maked "tail" under the dash, it has no power on either side of it. I'll have to check under the hood for the other fuses. I left the owners manual at work but I don't remember seeing any fuse marked tail lights under the hood, just the one under the dash. I'll take a better look tomorrow before I go to work.

Thanks again for the help.

dom...

I was checking the fuse maked "tail" under the dash, it has no power on either side of it. I'll have to check under the hood for the other fuses.

Try checking it with the switch on. It may be in the circuit after the switch.

I just thought of something else, I just had the windshield replaced, do you think the fellow doing that could have done something?

That 15amp tail fuse is powered directly from the 100amp main fuse in the power distribution center so you might want to check that again. After the 15amp fuse, it goes to a tail lamp relay so be real sure about that fuse being dead.

I do have power at the fuse, would my next check be the relay? if it is where would I find it? I do see a relay mounted on the side of the car under the dash just behind the e break. This would be a lot easier if I had a wire diagram to follow.

dom..