Troubleshooting Trailer Turn and Brake Lights that Stopped Working with 2007 Toyota Tacoma

Question:

I have a 2007 Toyota Tundra and I pull enclosed cargo trailers with it. For some reason, the turn and brake lights quit working. I have checked the fuses that mention towing and lights but they are good. I hooked the truck up to two different trailers and got the same results. Any ideas?

asked by: David B

Expert Reply:

Since the same turn signal and brake light issues occurred on two different trailers, it certainly appears that the issue is on the vehicle side of your Toyota Tacoma.

As all the fuses are in good shape, I recommend going to the trailer connector at the rear of your Toyota Tacoma to test the pins with a circuit tester like # PTW2993. You can have a buddy sit inside the cab and go through the various light functions as you test the corresponding pins for power. If you are not receiving power on the pins, I simply recommend inspecting the wiring going back from the connector to look for any loose connections or damaged areas. Also clean out any debris or corrosion that may have built up inside the connector and pins.

If you have a factory 7-Way on your Tacoma, you can test the wires going into the connector. If you are receiving power on these wires, then its most likely just a bad connector that needs to be replaced. If this is the case, then you can replace it with the Hopkins # HM11143395.

expert reply by: Chris R