I Can't Get This LIght to Go Away

[Gebo]

This error light is on my Daughter's '01 Lexus IS300. It's a rear tail light error. All the lights are working.
Brake lights, parking lights, side lights, signal lights, Both the trunk and rear glass light work.
Page 44 in manual gives guidelines to solving the problem but we have worked through those.

It stays on all the time when the switch is turned on. No codes on my scanner so I unhooked battery
to eliminate the light. Light came right back on.

Any ideas?

 

[spasm3]

Have you checked that all the bulbs are the correct ones and that there is no corrosion in the lamp sockets? If so, I'd try replacing the bulbs anyway.

 

[FowVay]

Be sure someone hasn't put LED bulbs in the sockets unless it came with LEDs.

 

[Propflux01]

A big hammer.

No, seriously. Like posted above, check the whole socket assy for corrosion. Even a small amount can alllw the lighting to still be functional, but enough resistance to trip the code light. I had this very problem in my fathers old ram truck a few years ago.

 

[atikovi]

Usually because the resistance is different between the right and left bulbs. Replace with identical bulbs.

 

[JC1]

I had an old Toyota tercel. One day the door ajar light came on. After looking for another issue for the tailights, I found it was a broken ground wire in the hatchback area. I wonder if it's something like this.

 

[vavavroom]

Nice Tri-Compax layout of the speedometer. Maybe one of the tail light wires has high resistance?

 

[BigCahuna]

You could try removing one of the battery leads, to see if maybe something needs to be reset.,,

 

[GR_CoB]

Had 2 IS300, a GS300, and GS400. All 4 vehicles had that light on when LED bulbs were used. Switch back to normal bulbs, check all of them. Including center brake light at rear window.

 

[Nick1994]

Check the front bulbs too, it's a universal light for the dash. My Camry has it on right now too.

 

[1 SX]

To echo what others said check bulbs and sockets. Also grounds

 

[JavierH19]

the electrical system works on resistance and if it sees there's none then the circuit is open and a light is out or if there's more or uneven amounts of resistance then makes it think there's a short or wiring issue since something is dawning more or less current. Make sure all the bulbs are identical or just replace them. also wouldn't be a bad idea to use a multimeter to check all the sockets.

 

[Jetronic]

This error light is on my Daughter's '01 Lexus IS300. It's a rear tail light error. All the lights are working.
Brake lights, parking lights, side lights, signal lights, Both the trunk and rear glass light work.
Page 44 in manual gives guidelines to solving the problem but we have worked through those.

It stays on all the time when the switch is turned on. No codes on my scanner so I unhooked battery
to eliminate the light. Light came right back on.

Any ideas?View attachment 69235

License plate lighting?

 

[Gebo]

License plate lighting?

Great idea but it's working.

 

[Gebo]

No LED's. Will check for corrosion.

 

[Gebo]

My Son-in-Law did replace the 3rd brake light as it was out. He bought the bulb from AA. The light on the dash stayed on. I guess I'll start there.

Thanks!

 

[mk378]

If the failure light comes on when you turn the light switch on (not the brake pedal) it would be something to do with the tail or marker lamps. The bulb numbers / wattages must be exactly as specified.

Nick1994 has an excellent point to also check the front.

 

[Timmastertech]

Make sure the license plate light bulbs are 168 bulbs and not 194 bulbs

 

[Gebo]

Wrong bulb in 3rd brake light. Switched to 921 and all is well.
Thanks!!!

 

[partspro]

This error light is on my Daughter's '01 Lexus IS300. It's a rear tail light error. All the lights are working.
Brake lights, parking lights, side lights, signal lights, Both the trunk and rear glass light work.
Page 44 in manual gives guidelines to solving the problem but we have worked through those.

It stays on all the time when the switch is turned on. No codes on my scanner so I unhooked battery
to eliminate the light. Light came right back on.

Any ideas?View attachment 69235

Clean them really well then buy a small pack of bulb grease, buy the OEM bulbs from the dealer if you need to