babowc

iTrader: (1)

I've been dealing with the "taillight out" thing for the longest time and I thought the light on the cluster pertained to every bulb on the exterior of the car...
I re-installed and checked all bulbs, but I'm still getting the light for "taillight out" on the cluster.

Is there something I'm missing here?

msc300

try cleaning taillight bulb housings also your license plate bulbs might be out

mecheng10

running light bulbs?
3rd brake light bulbs?

Dougspeed

iTrader: (2)

I had that same problem with my SC even though none of the bulbs were out. Turns out the rear parking/running light bulbs were not drawing enough voltage. Most people mistakenly put in 194 bulbs in place of the oem spec 168 bulbs. The 168 is 3 watts vs the 194 at 2 watts. I'm guessing that it trips the bulb out warning if it doesn't see all 3 watts on the bulb. And that dash indicator isn't for every exterior bulb, it's just for the rear parking light bulbs.

babowc

iTrader: (1)

Ah.. I'm gonna have to retrace every bulb, huh? That's quite an annoyance, haha.

Maserati

iTrader: (1)

I've had that since ive gotten my car and everyone that see's it asks about it. I'll double check the bulbs.

SC400slide

iTrader: (11)

Or if you're a cheapskate, just rip out the "bulb out" bulb and be done.

babowc

iTrader: (1)

Haha, that would be an option!

TheAzn

iTrader: (2)

Do you have any LEDs? I have an aftermarket wing with an LED third brake light with the original third brake light removed. Throws the fault everytime I hit the brakes. LEDs draw less voltage. It could also be a lower wattage bulb as well.

babowc

iTrader: (1)

Nope, no LEDS.

Dougspeed

iTrader: (2)

Don't have to replace ALL your bulbs, just the parking light bulbs in your tail light.

Dougspeed

iTrader: (2)

Apologies, used the wrong terminology since all the bulbs are 14 volt bulbs. The 194 bulb is 2 watts and draws .27 amps, the 168 bulb is 3 watts draws .35 amps. When the sensor doesn't see something close to .35 amps, it sees the bulb as being burned out. At least this is what my theory is. Like I said, when I replaced the 194 bulbs with the oem spec 168 bulbs in my tail lights, the bulb out warning light went away.

madmax_087

^ Wow, that was an excellent post. Thank you!

Joey-E

iTrader: (1)

Same here aswell previous owner used a wrong bulb i believe. So got that bulb lit in the dash.

No biggie.

apsykes

sometimes old bulbs that still work will intermittently set that light off.

it's done it on my Sc and 3rd gen camry.