Brake Lights From Hell

AGlobalThreat

Acceleration
Apr 4, 2005
991
0
0
Santa Clarita
Ok so for quite a while now I've had no brake lights. None whatsoever. I tried a new taillight failure box, no change, they still didn't work. Last night I found a writeup to bypass the taillight failure box so I figured I would try it today. Well I did it, and the brake lights worked first try. I drove my car to my gf's house and back (Car was turned off and sat at her house a few hours, brake lights worked fine when I left her house and I even checked them as I got off the freeway offramp to head back to my house and they were still working). As I pulled into my garage I thought wouldn't that be funny if they weren't working, and I turned around to check them and THEY AREN'T LIGHTING UP ANYMORE :mad:. I checked the kick panel 20A fuse and its fine, I took apart the connections I made earlier and looked at them and they are fine. All the grounds look fine. WTF!

This is the writeup: http://www.supracentral.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=35&Itemid=42

#2 – Remove the lamp failure box (LFB). Throw it as far into nearby woods as possible. Retrieve your wiring tools (strippers, crimpers, and connectors). The most important thing to remember about this process is that you will not be cutting any wires that go directly into the light assembly (off-white connector). You will only be cutting wires that go to the LFB (blue connector). Cut the green w/white wire and the red w/blue wire. Splice them together. Now cut the solid green wire and splice it to the green w/red wire. Once again, none of these should be going to the light assembly. Only the ones that went to the LFB connector are spliced. There may be wires of the same colors going to the light assembly (off-white connector), but they are NOT the right wires!!
 

Nick M

Black Rifles Matter
Sep 9, 2005
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Why are you trying to rewire a tail light out sensor for no brake lights? Did you crawl under the dash and look at the switch? It is a simple on off pluger.
 

Aspec

Supra uber alles
Dec 22, 2005
261
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Surprise, AZ
Nick M said:
Why are you trying to rewire a tail light out sensor for no brake lights? Did you crawl under the dash and look at the switch? It is a simple on off pluger.

A short or bad solder connection in the lamp failure module can cause a no brake light scenario but Nick is also right. Check the brake light switch first.
 

AGlobalThreat

Acceleration
Apr 4, 2005
991
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0
Santa Clarita
Well the rewire fixed the lights, what I don't understand was why the fix was temporary. The connections were all good, I didn't plan on taking them apart or redoing them. It seems as though the problem has moved, but if the stop switch was working fine after the rewire why all of a sudden would it stop working? I had brake lights for about 5 hours :\

I have gone under the dash and looked at the switch and it looks fine but I have not tested it.
 

RazoE

Boobs/Boost, my favorite
Jun 13, 2006
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sounds like me..

i have 3 taillight failure boxes, 1 allows me to use brake lights, but the taillights wont light up at all..

the other two will light up with the headlights, but when i press the brakes, there's no change..

the 1st box also causes my lights to dim and my voltmeter to drop a little every time I brake..

I'm getting tired of that shit, cause it has to be the boxes, but after reading what you said, if the taillight re-wire doesn't work, I'm going to be mighty pissed off...
 

CRE

7M-GE + MAFT Pro + T = :D
Oct 24, 2005
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Denver, CO
Per the TEWD the connections detailed in that writeup should do the trick. Although, if the TEWD is accurate, the third brake light won't function unless you also connect the red wire with the white stripe to the red wire with the blue stripe and the green w/white wires.

To adjust the taillight failure sensor for LED taillights you should only need to replace the resistors in the circuit that run to the green/white wire (pin 7) and the solid green wire (pin 10). You could put in 1/2W pots if you want something that's adjustable.



EDIT: Some corrected information. To bypass the tail lamp failure module you need to jumper pins 1, 5 and 7 (for the brake lights) AND 4 and 10 (for the markers).

http://www.cygnusx1.net/Supra/Library/TEWD/MK3/manual.aspx?Section=Main&Page=074
http://www.cygnusx1.net/Supra/Library/TEWD/MK3/manual.aspx?S=Main&P=64
 
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RazoE

Boobs/Boost, my favorite
Jun 13, 2006
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HAHAHAHAHAH!!!


I JUST got pulled over for my taillights..

the cop asked why they were out, and I said "oh it's a common problem on these cars"

I pointed to my SM sticker, and said "look"...

I had THIS thread open on my Sidekick and I read it to him, he laughs and says "oh shit, I guess they really are the brake lights from hell" I say "yeah, sorry man , I have 3 relays in my trunk right now, wanna see?" He says "Nah, I believe you, alright man just get it fixed, by the way, why do you have a bat right there?" "Oh, it's my little sisters" *I point to her name on it* "Infact, I have a pic of her with it" and I show it to him.

YES!, my story of why I have a bat works...

cool guy, seemed to be in his early 20's, anyway I'm going to eat my Carl's Jr. which is why I was out...
 

AGlobalThreat

Acceleration
Apr 4, 2005
991
0
0
Santa Clarita
CRE my gf said the 3rd brake light was working? I had her stand behind the car and check. Who knows what she saw ;)

RazoE so far I've been lucky, all I've been pulled over for is expired reg lately, which I'm going to fix tomorrow. Now I just hope I don't get pulled over for my brake lights on the way to get my car smogged O_O
 

CRE

7M-GE + MAFT Pro + T = :D
Oct 24, 2005
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Denver, CO
Okay, I was wondering if they weren't all connected at some point... it just didn't look like it when I glanced at the TEWD.
 

AGlobalThreat

Acceleration
Apr 4, 2005
991
0
0
Santa Clarita
Update, noticed tonight THEY ARE WORKING AGAIN!!!! YES!!!! :D

A few days ago I went through the entire car and redid every connection with solder, including about 10 connections in the rear of the car for the taillights. I also replaced my master cylinder the other day, and while I was down there I moved a few things around and checked out some plugs (Including the stop switch on the pedal) and just basically tinkered around with stuff (I'm sure you guys know what I mean/do the same thing) and well sure enough tonight on the drive home I noticed the brake lights are working again!!!! They've probably been working the whole time, but I rarely drive the car at night and during the day I might not be able to see them.

BTW in case your wondering I can see my brake lights on/off in my rear view mirror or if I turn around cuz I don't have interior blocking them ;)

Just wanted to bump and share cuz I fixed them and I'm really excited :D