2017 Tacoma won’t start - because tail lights?

hello everyone! I follow these forums a lot and this is my first post.

My truck won’t start, i think i have the solution but i want more opinions.
Last night i installed McNiel bedside fenders. When we removed the tail lights to remove the rear fenders, we broke the reverse light bulb.

We removed the broken bulb, and re assembled the truck without replacing the bulb.

It wouldn’t start, so we found a busted tail light fuse, i replaced the fuse and none of the tail lights turn on, and the truck still won’t start.

The truck thinks the break is not being pressed so the push start will not work.

Is all this happening simply because i don’t have a reverse bulb? Or is this a bigger problem?

Thank you!

 

Sounds like you have some wiring harness damage somewhere. Trace the taillight wires. Maybe the fuel pump wiring has been damaged. Does it crank but won't start, or do you not get anything at all?

 

Is the fuse you just replaced still good or did it blow again? You dont need working taillights or the bulb to start the truck

 

No idea, truck looks sick though

 

Like it wouldn't turn over period, or started and then died about 4 seconds later?

1. Did you reconnect the battery? I ask because it's happened to me before
2. If it started then died ONCE, that's a normal thing for tacomas to do if you disconnect the battery and reconnect it.

 

With the replaces fuse, and no bulb in the tail lights, the truck goes into accessory mode. But when i press the break and try to start it, nothing happens at all, doesn’t crank or anything.

When i turn the lights on, the tail lights don’t work, and they don’t work when i press the breaks.

 

Fuse is fine since trying again. Tail lights don’t work at all, blinkers, breaks or running lights all off

 

Is it automatic? If so, try pressing the brake instead of the break.

Sorry.

 

Did you do any cutting? check if you cut a harness in half. Sounds like you cut a fuel pump wire, or pinched one.

 

Didn’t do any cutting. Just moved the bed of the truck around a little for the fender install and removed the tail lights

 

Sounds like pinched wires under bed, and possible more blow fuses.

 

What other fuses could it be other than the 1 taillight fuse in the cab?

 

Just check them all.

 

Like Rujack mentioned, both fuse boxes. cab/engine compartment.

 

Seems silly but did you put the new fuse in the right spot? There are bulbs in the tail lights right? Everything is plugged in properly?

Check all the fuses.

 

Also, if the fuses look ok, try disconnecting the battery (negative) for a few min.

 

For kicks you might also try starting it in neutral instead of park.

 

Is it a key start or push start?

If its a key start, let her turn over a bit, then sniff the exhaust pipe. If you smell fuel, its something else. If you dont smell fuel, then you have a fuel problem. You can also get under there and check the fuel pump wires for power.

I keep pushing fuel pump over tail lights because the tail lights have nothing to do with starting, and the only other thing under there is the fuel pump.

 

It’s a push start. That’s the problem. It’s not turning on because it thinks the break is not being pushed.