Great video. Before you buy the part, try cleaning it with electrical connector cleaner and a small wire brush. Cleaned mine and it’s working. I also ended up using some baking soda/water paste to remove corrosion. Mash it in the connector with a toothbrush and scrub it. Then get an air compressor with a nozzle and blast the paste of it out with air. Then use the electrical connector spray to remove the remaining. Nice clean connectors
Thanks - you gave the critical clue to solving our problem when a brand new brake light bulb did not show a brake light. All wiring is fed through the center bulb in the taillight stack. We pulled & reseated that bulb (with the central lighting harness that feeds everything per ea. side) …. and BOOM everything works !!!! Thanks, bud; thumbs up for caring to make what seemed (at first) like a no-brainer. Very helpful!
Super helpful. Thank you. This was the issue with our 2006 Toyota Highlander. We replaced the lights but the one side still wouldn't work. Similar to the video. We followed his troubleshooting advice and ended up replacing the plug socket. BOTH brake lights now work! Yay.
Thank you so much! This fixed my problem. I had changed bulbs twice with no effect. My socket wasn't corroded but by cleaning it with qtips and alcohol carefully and reseating the connection worked. Would never have thought it was the reverse socket.
Thanks for video. I have the exact problem. I used vinegar and Q-tips to clean the socket pins very carefully and the contacts on that socket twice few minutes apart. It is working again.
Great video. My problem seems to be the socket thing. Appreciate the help, but, man it’s hard to write down that part number in such a short time on screen. But I got it. Thanks.
I like your videos. I had the same issue, with my right rear tail light. The sockets have brass contacts (not talking about the pins), that were flattened as the socket was inserted originally, or they were not designed right. That contacts were not making a good connections. I was able to bend them out and get a good connection which fixed my light.
I used the same part. I used a small flathead screwdriver to gently bend the brass contacts up. That gave them enough lift to make electrical contact. I did this 17 years ago on my used 2001, and it is still good.
2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED-My symptoms were tail light fuse, kept blowing out left blinker wouldn’t work hazards stopped flashing, and would only work for a few seconds. Also as another possible problem is check the trailer hitch, wiring harness, right underneath the plastic tool tray holding all the tire changing tools inside the back floor panel. Directly above where the spare tire is, but inside. There is a wiring harness to add on trailer lights. Constantly shorts out on the metal floor. If you had changed a tire recently, that will definitely be a reason why I could’ve gotten moved in, pushed against the floor harder. Check it out as well while back there. Good luck
The reverse light socket strikes again! The auto parts stores are making a "killing" on 7443 bulb sales, when all you really needed to do was check the reverse light socket. I suggest checking it first to potentially save $10!
I purchased Alla LED bulbs to replace my reverse back up bulbs on my 2004 Highlander, as the original incandescent bulbs are not very bright. These are very well made LED’s with a heat sink to dissipate heat. They also have a pigtail to make the connection to the bulb. The new back up LED bulbs worked great, much brighter than the incandescents. Only problem, ALL my brake and signal and tail lights did not work! Problem being with the pigtail connection the old socket was no longer in contact with the metal frame, providing a ground to the brake,tail,and signal lights. The new Alla LED bulbs have their own socket, which doesn’t provide a ground connection from the rest of the wiring harness. So I would have to jury rig a ground to the frame, in order to get the brake-tail-signal lights work. There was nothing in the instructions to indicate a work around. I returned the LED bulbs. This video shows exactly what happens when you don’t have a proper ground!!
My left side tail light isnt working but only on the bottom part. The top light and blinker are working fine. I changed the bulb in the bottom and checked the reverse socket. I pushed up the metal prongs a bit to make sure it wasnt missing a connection. Not sure where to go from here.
I just replaced my right rear light, and now it isn’t responding to the brake. I switched the sockets and it still doesn’t work (and the left rear one still works). The old right rear tail light (which is just cracked) doesn’t respond to the brake, either. I’m stumped…
@@OEMEangg Just got it fixed, it was the bulb (🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️), which I didn’t realize is a two-stage bulb, which is why it was still lighting up when the brake pedal wasn’t depressed. I feel a little silly…
Follow the 6P rule: Proper preparation prevents piss-poor performance. The nugget of this droll saying is to check the easy things first. So: 1. Always first check the fuse at the panel at lower left of the dashboard. Might not be the problem, but far easier and quicker if you have big stiff fingers like me. 2. Light bulbs almost never fail in pairs. NEVER replace bulbs without checking them, as you demonstrate. Use a multimeter or test lamp to validate the bulb is good or hold it up to the light and see if the filament is broken. 3. Swapping the sockets will not conclusively validate a socket, but it's a reasonably accurate, if time-consuming, test. 4. Swapping sockets doesn't reveal in "intermittent" fail, it shows that one socket is bad. There doesn't look to be enough corrosion to make the socket fail, and it's a known issue with first generation Highlanders that by bending the current carrying tabs slightly, to provide better contact, you'll resolve the problem. The underlying cause is a shoddy part from Toyota, who should, by their reputation, have known better, but the socket design is a common one across the auto industry. 5. At the end, the right side lights are dim, showing there is still a poor connection between the new socket and the tail light assembly. You don't address that, and should have.
Great video. Before you buy the part, try cleaning it with electrical connector cleaner and a small wire brush. Cleaned mine and it’s working. I also ended up using some baking soda/water paste to remove corrosion. Mash it in the connector with a toothbrush and scrub it. Then get an air compressor with a nozzle and blast the paste of it out with air. Then use the electrical connector spray to remove the remaining. Nice clean connectors
Thanks - you gave the critical clue to solving our problem when a brand new brake light bulb did not show a brake light. All wiring is fed through the center bulb in the taillight stack. We pulled & reseated that bulb (with the central lighting harness that feeds everything per ea. side) …. and BOOM everything works !!!! Thanks, bud; thumbs up for caring to make what seemed (at first) like a no-brainer. Very helpful!
Super helpful. Thank you. This was the issue with our 2006 Toyota Highlander. We replaced the lights but the one side still wouldn't work. Similar to the video. We followed his troubleshooting advice and ended up replacing the plug socket. BOTH brake lights now work! Yay.
Glad the video helped.
Thank you so much! This fixed my problem. I had changed bulbs twice with no effect. My socket wasn't corroded but by cleaning it with qtips and alcohol carefully and reseating the connection worked. Would never have thought it was the reverse socket.
Glad to help!
Never had this issue until now. Tried this out and it worked like a charm! Thank you very much!
Glad to help!
What a great upload. Short, direct, no fluff and excellent advise about corrosion and swapping left and right for quick diagnosis. Good job.
Life saving moment. Helped me figure out a problem I'd been stumped with for weeks
Glad to help.
Excellent vid, was scratching my head after changing the bulbs, switched the socket and boom it works. new socket ordered. Thanks for the help 🤙🤙🤙
Thanks for video. I have the exact problem. I used vinegar and Q-tips to clean the socket pins very carefully and the contacts on that socket twice few minutes apart. It is working again.
Thank you! This worked!!
Thanks for this video, and for the link to the part. Very helpful!
Our 2002 did the same thing this week. ordered a new one socket today at Orieley auto parts 😊
Thanks heaps, all I did was wiggle connectors in to make sure they are firmly in and everything works again.
always glad to help with a cheap fix.
Great video. My problem seems to be the socket thing. Appreciate the help, but, man it’s hard to write down that part number in such a short time on screen. But I got it. Thanks.
Sorry to hear. I usually have the part numbers in the show notes. Just click on that "SHOW MORE" and both part numbers are listed.
I wrote it down by putting the video on pause.
@@michaelreyes8670 hahaha... ok, that works too.
Thanks a million man for posting this. Great video.
I like your videos.
I had the same issue, with my right rear tail light. The sockets have brass contacts (not talking about the pins), that were flattened as the socket was inserted originally, or they were not designed right. That contacts were not making a good connections. I was able to bend them out and get a good connection which fixed my light.
Cool. So you don't have to buy a new part?
I used the same part. I used a small flathead screwdriver to gently bend the brass contacts up. That gave them enough lift to make electrical contact. I did this 17 years ago on my used 2001, and it is still good.
2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED-My symptoms were tail light fuse, kept blowing out left blinker wouldn’t work hazards stopped flashing, and would only work for a few seconds. Also as another possible problem is check the trailer hitch, wiring harness, right underneath the plastic tool tray holding all the tire changing tools inside the back floor panel. Directly above where the spare tire is, but inside. There is a wiring harness to add on trailer lights. Constantly shorts out on the metal floor. If you had changed a tire recently, that will definitely be a reason why I could’ve gotten moved in, pushed against the floor harder. Check it out as well while back there. Good luck
Thanks for the info.
The reverse light socket strikes again! The auto parts stores are making a "killing" on 7443 bulb sales, when all you really needed to do was check the reverse light socket. I suggest checking it first to potentially save $10!
BTW, what a great video! Thanks.
Thanks!!! You saved me money.
I purchased Alla LED bulbs to replace my reverse back up bulbs on my 2004 Highlander, as the original incandescent bulbs are not very bright. These are very well made LED’s with a heat sink to dissipate heat. They also have a pigtail to make the connection to the bulb. The new back up LED bulbs worked great, much brighter than the incandescents. Only problem, ALL my brake and signal and tail lights did not work! Problem being with the pigtail connection the old socket was no longer in contact with the metal frame, providing a ground to the brake,tail,and signal lights. The new Alla LED bulbs have their own socket, which doesn’t provide a ground connection from the rest of the wiring harness. So I would have to jury rig a ground to the frame, in order to get the brake-tail-signal lights work. There was nothing in the instructions to indicate a work around. I returned the LED bulbs. This video shows exactly what happens when you don’t have a proper ground!!
Spectacular find
hopefully the video help.
That is my exact problem, Thanks Michael
Hope the video helped. It is common issue for that vehicle.
thank, Video was helpful .
Hell yeah! Thx man
My left side tail light isnt working but only on the bottom part. The top light and blinker are working fine. I changed the bulb in the bottom and checked the reverse socket. I pushed up the metal prongs a bit to make sure it wasnt missing a connection. Not sure where to go from here.
It's 2006
Socket plug working?
There is a guy walking in front of the camera at the ending of the video. hahaha...
Thank million
Thank you man 👍
Don't you think wiggling the connections should have been the first thing to try, especially since you were aware of the issue?
LOL... that is true.
I just replaced my right rear light, and now it isn’t responding to the brake. I switched the sockets and it still doesn’t work (and the left rear one still works). The old right rear tail light (which is just cracked) doesn’t respond to the brake, either. I’m stumped…
It could be the tail light but I think it is the socket.
@@OEMEangg Just got it fixed, it was the bulb (🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️), which I didn’t realize is a two-stage bulb, which is why it was still lighting up when the brake pedal wasn’t depressed. I feel a little silly…
Follow the 6P rule: Proper preparation prevents piss-poor performance. The nugget of this droll saying is to check the easy things first. So:
1. Always first check the fuse at the panel at lower left of the dashboard. Might not be the problem, but far easier and quicker if you have big stiff fingers like me.
2. Light bulbs almost never fail in pairs. NEVER replace bulbs without checking them, as you demonstrate. Use a multimeter or test lamp to validate the bulb is good or hold it up to the light and see if the filament is broken.
3. Swapping the sockets will not conclusively validate a socket, but it's a reasonably accurate, if time-consuming, test.
4. Swapping sockets doesn't reveal in "intermittent" fail, it shows that one socket is bad. There doesn't look to be enough corrosion to make the socket fail, and it's a known issue with first generation Highlanders that by bending the current carrying tabs slightly, to provide better contact, you'll resolve the problem. The underlying cause is a shoddy part from Toyota, who should, by their reputation, have known better, but the socket design is a common one across the auto industry.
5. At the end, the right side lights are dim, showing there is still a poor connection between the new socket and the tail light assembly. You don't address that, and should have.
Dude stuff it we just want our shit to work. 😂