Tail light issues
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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7699
Printed Date: 12 May 2025 at 6:16am
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Topic: Tail light issues
Posted By: pnwcamper
Subject: Tail light issues
Date Posted: 06 Apr 2016 at 9:15am
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I have a 2014 177 and my left tail light is not working properly. The running lights work fine on all lights (including the left side) but the left turn signal doesn't. When the running lights are (off) the left turn signal works but is very very weak. All other lights work fine. (The left turn signal on the truck works fine). I'm not sure if it is a wiring issue or the entire left rear light needs replacing. I was unsuccessful when attempting to take off the rear reflector to get to the LED bulb, they have it stuck/glue on pretty well. Any one else had to replace the rear turn signal lights? Thanks ------------- 2014 R-Pod 177 2009 Toyota Tacoma Access Cab 4.0 V6 |
Replies:
Posted By: john in idaho
Date Posted: 06 Apr 2016 at 10:06am
| You might try squirting some "Electronics Parts Cleaner " -from NAPA - on the contacts of the plug-in to the tow vehicle - including the tow vehicle. I would doubt that the problem is the LED bulb. |
Posted By: JandL
Date Posted: 06 Apr 2016 at 10:49am
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The stop, tail, turn lights are sealed units, no way to get inside. Are the brake lights on the left side weaker? The turn and brake lights should be the same brightness. ------------- JandL 2013 Honda Ridgeline 2012 177 2 Paynes in a Pod |
Posted By: pnwcamper
Date Posted: 06 Apr 2016 at 11:01am
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JandL, just checked and you are correct, the brake lights are also weaker. john in idaho, have not had a chance to try your idea but will hopefully try later today. Thanks. ------------- 2014 R-Pod 177 2009 Toyota Tacoma Access Cab 4.0 V6 |
Posted By: JandL
Date Posted: 06 Apr 2016 at 12:17pm
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The LED lights take a voltage between 9-14 Volts to operate. There is a regulator in the light that drops it to 6-9 Volts that way voltage fluctions don't affect the lights. If something is wrong with the circuit inside the light there is not much you can do. The circuit controls the brightness of stop-turn and tail ------------- JandL 2013 Honda Ridgeline 2012 177 2 Paynes in a Pod |
Posted By: pnwcamper
Date Posted: 06 Apr 2016 at 1:23pm
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JandL, thanks. When you mean there is nothing that can be done, I assume the entire tail light could be replaced correct?
------------- 2014 R-Pod 177 2009 Toyota Tacoma Access Cab 4.0 V6 |
Posted By: JandL
Date Posted: 06 Apr 2016 at 1:54pm
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Yes the whole light is replaced. If you have a volt meter to check what is going to the light. I can access my light thru the rear storage pass thru. You have to remove the panel protecting the back of the light. ------------- JandL 2013 Honda Ridgeline 2012 177 2 Paynes in a Pod |
Posted By: pnwcamper
Date Posted: 24 Apr 2016 at 10:51am
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Tail light issue update... I had my local mechanic take a look and he checked to make sure there was a full 12 volts making it to the my left turn signal. All checked out ok so his diagnoses is the LED tail light needs to be replaced, which I have not done yet. I guess LED lights are rare to have issues especially since my R-Pod is only a 2014 but it happens. Electrical wire is not my strong suit so to you guys that are more knowledgeable does this sound correct? Thanks, Don ------------- 2014 R-Pod 177 2009 Toyota Tacoma Access Cab 4.0 V6 |
Posted By: Retroactive
Date Posted: 24 Apr 2016 at 11:55am
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LEDs are generally manufactured in China, and their quality is often suspect. Not really the fault of FR, that is where the LEDs come from and a lot of Chinese factories only care about throughput metrics. Things like household LED bulbs are very reliable now, but the low cost ones used in exposed weather situations like tail lights can still have much higher failure rate. ------------- |
Posted By: JHoffman
Date Posted: 24 Apr 2016 at 3:14pm
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I'm a corporate jet mechanic and even the ones for aircraft fail more often then they should. You mentioned that you have 12 volts of power, have you checked to make sure that the light is grounded properly? Along with power it has to have a good path to ground. Here in New England trailer grounds tend to corrode where they are screwed to the frame. ------------- 2016 176t Rpod the "Hoffpod" 2010 Toyota Tundra 5.7L |
Posted By: JandL
Date Posted: 24 Apr 2016 at 7:49pm
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Here is the information about the light that came on my 177
Surface mount stop-tail-turn light includes class A reflex for visibility. Does not require cutting large hole for mounting. 100,000 hour rated life. Sealed for long life. Seven inch straight wire leads – no pigtail required. http://www.commandelectronics.com/shop/surface-mount-20-led-stop-tail-turn-light-round uploads/2642/003-6019rProductInfo.pdf - 003-6019rProductInfo.pdf ------------- JandL 2013 Honda Ridgeline 2012 177 2 Paynes in a Pod |
Posted By: pnwcamper
Date Posted: 05 May 2016 at 7:09pm
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My tail light mystery has finally been solved. Turns out when I took the tail light fixture off and was unhooking the wires I noticed the red wire from the light was not making a good connection to the red wire (hot) coming from inside the R-pod. Stripped the wire a bit, reconnected, and magic, it works. This is after checking to make sure 12volts were getting to the tail light from inside the storage compartment and after driving an hour one way to get a replacement tail light. Which by the way was $38.00. Talked to the RV place and they are going to give me a refund. Lesson learned. I'm back to being a happy camper...and legal since it hasn't worked since I purchased my used pod back in October. ------------- 2014 R-Pod 177 2009 Toyota Tacoma Access Cab 4.0 V6 |
Posted By: timpod
Date Posted: 05 May 2016 at 7:58pm
Heh, before I read this I was going to post that having 12v at the light isn't always definitive. Sometimes you can have the voltage but because of bad connections or frayed wire you can't pull any amps. Though with the LEDs drawing so little, I wouldn't have expected this one. ------------- 2016 Pod 172 2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited |
Posted By: kerton
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2016 at 7:09pm
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I had the same tail light problem. In my case, upon further inspection, the LED housing was full of water like a fish tank. Mine is the LED from Command Electronics model 003-6019R. I just ordered a replacement. |
Posted By: Jencabltn
Date Posted: 18 Mar 2019 at 10:00pm
| Hi there. I just ordered a new brake light for my 2016 Rpod. When it comes, do I pop the old one out via the inside from under the kitchen cabinet? (After take of the lens and such on the outsidee) |
Posted By: Pod People
Date Posted: 19 Mar 2019 at 6:30am
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I have replaced a set of tail lights on the rear. You simply cut the caulking around the base, unscrew the entire unit. The wiring comes out through a 1" hole in the pod's skin. Splice the new wires into the existing harness, apply new caulk and screw the fixture on.I would fill the old screw holes with silicone and use new screw holes for mounting the new fixture. Simple and easy good luck Vann ------------- Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9"> 
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Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 19 Mar 2019 at 7:25am
It's a complete "unit". You remove the screws from the outside. Remove all the silicone, move the wires from old light to new, screw new light in place, reseal with silicone. ------------- |