Tail Light Malfunction

Tail Light Malfunction

That was the message on the dashboard of my (well, our) Lexus. The tail lights looked OK to me, but when the brake pedal got pushed the left light got brighter and the right didn’t.

Driver’s Manual out of the trunk and open to page 403. There are 2 bulbs behind the trunk liner on the right side, one of which is called “Tail Light.” Off to Lexus dealer with the old bulb in hand. Dude hands me a new one, he collects $3.27, I get home, put it in, find Tail Light Malfunction on the dash.

Back to the Manual. Page 405 shows a 3-bulb cluster mounted behind a little door in the trunk, one of which is called “Brake/Tail Light.” I get the old bulb out, go see my new best friend at the Parts counter, buy two new Brake/Tail Light bulbs, pay $12.87, go back home, replace both L & R bulbs, and find no message on the dash. Success!

Kudos to Lexus for running a diagnostic test of all the bulbs in the car every time the car starts. And kudos to Lexus for even having a liner for the trunk lid. Those are the little things you get (that don't get listed on the new-car window-sticker) when you move up to a “luxury” car, I guess. Even back in 2011 Lexus built those things in.

If I were the kind of guy who would bitch about my (our) Lexus, I’d bitch about the Tail Light Malfunction message not saying Brake Light Malfunction instead. But I’m not that kind of guy.