Blown Taillight

**Tideland Prius** · 11-22-2007, 01:53 PM

Well, the Prius is following right on the heels of our last Camry. The left taillight has blown out. (just like it did on the Camry). However unlike the Camry, I'm pretty sure the centre "CHMSL" won't blow since they're LEDs and hopefully Toyota has used quality LED bulbs.

seasalsa · 11-22-2007, 02:50 PM

I have replaced both of mine, the left went first at about 30k and the right went last month at 57k.

Sufferin' Prius Envy · 11-22-2007, 02:59 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(seasalsa @ Nov 22 2007, 11:50 AM) [snapback]542963[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I have replaced both of mine, the left went first at about 30k and the right went last month at 57k.[/b]

My left too went out at about 30k. I haven't yet reached 50k, but I am prepared with the second bulb from the pack. Thankfully it is a stupidly easy fix.

AS ADVANCED AS THE PRIUS IS, I'M SURPRISED TOYOTA DID NOT INCLUDE A WARNING SYSTEM FOR A BURNT OUT BULB. <_< Don't most cars nowadays have that warning system?

**Tideland Prius** · 11-22-2007, 11:25 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sufferin' Prius Envy @ Nov 22 2007, 11:59 AM) [snapback]542967[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

My left too went out at about 30k. I haven't yet reached 50k, but I am prepared with the second bulb from the pack. Thankfully it is a stupidly easy fix.

AS ADVANCED AS THE PRIUS IS, I'M SURPRISED TOYOTA DID NOT INCLUDE A WARNING SYSTEM FOR A BURNT OUT BULB. <_< Don't most cars nowadays have that warning system?
[/b]

Only Hondas as far as I know.

Mine's at 67,000kms. The parts dept. guy told me there were 3 bulbs

. I'm like.. there's only one red bulb.

I'm gonna make a poll and poll PCers about this lol.

patsparks · 11-23-2007, 12:07 AM

My 1990 Camry had a blown globe warning system.

galaxee · 11-23-2007, 12:33 AM

funny, toyota is moving away from the blown-bulb reminder system. it sucks from the customer perspective until there's a problem with the reminder system... once DH spent 3 days rewiring a 3g camry that someone tried to rewire to bypass that system, it was a real mess.

**Tideland Prius** · 11-23-2007, 01:49 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Nov 22 2007, 09:33 PM) [snapback]543123[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

funny, toyota is moving away from the blown-bulb reminder system. it sucks from the customer perspective until there's a problem with the reminder system... once DH spent 3 days rewiring a 3g camry that someone tried to rewire to bypass that system, it was a real mess.
[/b]

wow.. never had a Toyota that had that system.

S. Young · 08-08-2008, 05:44 PM

My left brake light is out but my right one works. I checked the fuses and the three bulbs I could get out of the tail light assembly from the back side. They are all three regular filament bulbs. Since none of the three come on when the brakes are applied and since I know that the brake light is a LED bulb (comes on instantly as opposed to a filament bulb that needs to heat up - you can see the difference) and I could see two small wires coming out of the wiring harness and leading into the tail light assembly, I took the tail light assembly out of the car.
Looks to me that I will need to replace the whole tail light assembly to replace the LED brake light and the Toyota parts guy just told me they sell for something like $225!
Anyone have a less expensive fix?

Patrick Wong · 08-08-2008, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S. Young

...I took the tail light assembly out of the car.
Looks to me that I will need to replace the whole tail light assembly to replace the LED brake light and the Toyota parts guy just told me they sell for something like $225!

I haven't had this problem so I don't have personal experience with the issue. Now that you have the combination light assembly out, is it possible to remove the LED brake light subassembly? If so, can you take the subassembly apart so that you can see the circuitry within?

If you can get to that point and have a digital multimeter available, you might be able to figure out why the light doesn't work. Maybe a current-limiting resistor is burnt out...

If the above is too much, then you can buy a new combination light for $138 plus shipping (MSRP of $182):
Champion ToyotaWorld

Note that this link is for 2004-2005; if you have a newer model then look up the combination light for your model year.

S. Young · 08-08-2008, 07:42 PM

[quote=Patrick Wong;687307]I haven't had this problem so I don't have personal experience with the issue. Now that you have the combination light assembly out, is it possible to remove the LED brake light subassembly? If so, can you take the subassembly apart so that you can see the circuitry within?

Patrick - the LED bulb is not accessable but the curcuit board is removable.

If you can get to that point and have a digital multimeter available, you might be able to figure out why the light doesn't work. Maybe a current-limiting resistor is burnt out...

P. W. - I had to put the tail light assembly back in because I have to drive the car tomorrow. There are several resistors on the board which I will check with my multimeter tomorrow evening and report back. I would much rather spend a few bucks on resistors than to throw this beautiful piece of plastic in a landfill.

08-08-2008, 05:44 PM	#8
S. Young Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 4 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Blown Taillight My left brake light is out but my right one works. I checked the fuses and the three bulbs I could get out of the tail light assembly from the back side. They are all three regular filament bulbs. Since none of the three come on when the brakes are applied and since I know that the brake light is a LED bulb (comes on instantly as opposed to a filament bulb that needs to heat up - you can see the difference) and I could see two small wires coming out of the wiring harness and leading into the tail light assembly, I took the tail light assembly out of the car. Looks to me that I will need to replace the whole tail light assembly to replace the LED brake light and the Toyota parts guy just told me they sell for something like $225! Anyone have a less expensive fix?

08-08-2008, 07:42 PM	#10
S. Young Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 4 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Blown Taillight [quote=Patrick Wong;687307]I haven't had this problem so I don't have personal experience with the issue. Now that you have the combination light assembly out, is it possible to remove the LED brake light subassembly? If so, can you take the subassembly apart so that you can see the circuitry within? Patrick - the LED bulb is not accessable but the curcuit board is removable. If you can get to that point and have a digital multimeter available, you might be able to figure out why the light doesn't work. Maybe a current-limiting resistor is burnt out... P. W. - I had to put the tail light assembly back in because I have to drive the car tomorrow. There are several resistors on the board which I will check with my multimeter tomorrow evening and report back. I would much rather spend a few bucks on resistors than to throw this beautiful piece of plastic in a landfill.

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11-22-2007, 01:53 PM	#1
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,908 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	Well, the Prius is following right on the heels of our last Camry. The left taillight has blown out. (just like it did on the Camry). However unlike the Camry, I'm pretty sure the centre "CHMSL" won't blow since they're LEDs and hopefully Toyota has used quality LED bulbs.

11-22-2007, 02:50 PM	#2
seasalsa Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 1,199 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I have replaced both of mine, the left went first at about 30k and the right went last month at 57k.

11-23-2007, 12:07 AM	#5
patsparks Uneducated bird-brain Aussie Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 4,905 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: Base Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 17	My 1990 Camry had a blown globe warning system.

11-23-2007, 12:33 AM	#6
galaxee running WOT until out of fuel Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: central NC/ western WI Posts: 9,072 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 5 Times in 3 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 21	funny, toyota is moving away from the blown-bulb reminder system. it sucks from the customer perspective until there's a problem with the reminder system... once DH spent 3 days rewiring a 3g camry that someone tried to rewire to bypass that system, it was a real mess.