Troubleshooting 4-Way Vehicle Wiring Harness Not Allowing Brake Lights to Work on 2003 Toyota Tacoma
Published 03/25/2024 >
Products Featured in This Question
Question:
Hello Etrailer team, I have used your wiring harness installation kit from Curt for my 2003 tacoma double cab. I am at the final stage of connecting the harness and grounding it. Everything is working properly, but my brake lights. It appears that they are now always on, or maybe they are just at tail light brightness. Either way pressing and depressing the pedal makes no difference in the brightness of the taillights. The tail lights are aftermarket LED. Could this be having an impact on the harness or is this likely being caused by something else?
asked by: Chris B
Expert Reply:
The 4-Way Harness # C55379 for your 2003 Toyota Tacoma is going to use the factory wiring to identify when a function is activated and power the trailer connector. Since you mentioned your truck was converted to LED lights if you factory lighting has a resistor installed going to the brake lights this may prevent enough power from getting to the tail lights. You may have to either move the resistor or go with a powered module like the # C59236. This has a separate power wire which runs to the battery so that all the power sent through the converter is coming from the battery rather than the factory wiring.
I would start by testing the input wire going into the converter you just installed to verify you are getting power from the brake switch. I have also seen the fuse for the brake lights go out because the battery wasn't disconnected and there was a power short during installation. Since both the brake lights aren't working I feel like this is the most probable issue. Please let me know what you find or other tests you may have done so I know where to go further to help you determine it the converter was bad from the factory.
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Curt T-Connector Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector
- Custom Fit Vehicle Wiring
- Trailer Hitch Wiring
- Vehicle End Connector
- Converter
- No Tow Package
- 4 Flat
- Plug and Lead
- Plug-In
- Visible
- CURT
more information >
Featured Help Information
Instructions
Continue Researching
- Shop: Trailer Wiring
- Q&A: Troubleshooting Low Voltage At Vehicle Side Connector for Trailer Right Signal Lights
- Shop: Curt 4-Way Flat Trailer Connector with Circuit Protected Powered Tail Light Converter
- Shop: Curt T-Connector Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector
- Q&A: Trailer Turn Signals Flash Very Dim and Show Inconsistent Voltage
- Q&A: Troubleshooting 2017 Toyota Tacoma Sending Power Only to Trailer Right Side Tail Lights
- Shop: Power Mountain Tallboy Off-Road Bottle Jack - 8-1/2" to 37-3/4" Lift - 6 Tons
- Q&A: Turn Signals on Trailer Not Working When Running Lights are On
- Search Results: trailer wiring
- Article: Trailer Wiring Diagrams
- Video: How to Choose a Trailer Brake Controller
- Q&A: What is the Difference Between a Class II and a Class III Hitch?
- Shop: Trailer Hitch
- Search Results: trailer hitch
- Video: Feature Breakdown: Universal Installation Kit for Trailer Brake Controller
- Article: Brake Controller 7- and 4-Way Installation Kit (ETBC7)
- Shop: Universal Installation Kit for Trailer Brake Controller - 7-Way RV and 4-Way Flat - 10 Gauge Wires
- Q&A: What is the Difference Between a 4-Way and 7-Way Trailer Connector
- Q&A: Lug Nut Torque Chart for Trailer Wheels
- Video: Firestone Ride-Rite Air Bags with Easy Mount Compressor Feature Breakdown
- Article: How to Measure for Trailer Hitch Drop
- Search Results: trailer tires and wheels
- Shop: Suspension Enhancement
- Shop: etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Matte Black Finish - Class III - 2"
- Search Results: trailer jack
- Article: Wiring Trailer Lights with a 7-Way Plug (It's Easier Than You Think)
- Shop: Brake Controller
- Shop: Redarc Tow-Pro Liberty Brake Controller w/ Universal Wiring Harness - Dash Knob - Proportional
- Video: A Look at the Power Mountain Tallboy 6 Ton Off-Road Bottle Jack with a Military Cargo Trailer
- Video: Redarc Tow-Pro Liberty Brake Controller Review RED24FR

