Troubleshooting Right Tail Light That Stays On and Flashes When Brakes Are Applied

Question:

MY RT TAIL LAMP STAYS LIT EXCEPT WHEN I USE THE BRAKE THEN THE RT SIGNAL WILL FLASH ONLY WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED. 2017 TOYOTA TACOMA JUST INSTALLED A WEEK AGO . EVERYTHING WAS GOOD UNTIL YESTERDAY.

asked by: Buddy B

Expert Reply:

It sounds like the right turn signal wire on the trailer may have somehow been shorted to the running light wire, which is what is causing the light to stay on. I recommend checking these and the other trailer wires for any damaged or exposed areas that might be making contact with another wire or bare metal surface. Also check to make sure that the connector itself is free of any dirt or debris, as this may also cause a short.

Lastly, make sure all your ground connections are secure and made to clean, bare metal surfaces. A bad or weak ground can sometimes cause strange things to happen with the light functions on the trailer.

If you are still unable to resolve the issue, please let me know and I will be happy to look into this further. I have also attached a wiring troubleshooting article that you might find helpful.

expert reply by: Chris R