2007 Prius taillights out - bump them and they come back on.

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by OkcPriusOwner, May 31, 2017.

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  1. OkcPriusOwner

    OkcPriusOwner Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2014
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    Location:
    Oklahoma City, OK
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    A few weeks ago a friend following me told me my driver side taillight was out. While checking it, I bumped the light housing (open hand smack) and it came back on. I thought it was just a glitch and forgot about it.

    Last night I was returning some movies to Red Box and I got pulled over. The cop said I had no taillights at all (both sides out now) but that my brake lights seemed to be working.

    When I walked to the back of my car, I bumped each light housing separately and each time the taillight came back on.

    Luckily the cop just laughed it off (called me 'Fonzi') and let me go.

    Originally I thought it might be a loose connection for the one light that went out. But with both doing it, how should I trouble shoot this? Replace both bulbs? Have the electrical looked at?
    Thanks in advance.
     
    #1 OkcPriusOwner, May 31, 2017
  2. DonDNH

    DonDNH Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2004
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    Location:
    Nashua, NH
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    I had an '04 with the same problem. It turned out to be just a bad connection at the wiring harness to the tail light assembly. Moisture had corroded the connection. I cleaned both sides with a finger nail file - issue went away.
     
    #2 DonDNH, May 31, 2017
    OkcPriusOwner likes this.
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