Failed Tom's Tail lights - Page 3 - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

funwheeldrive · 08-07-2015, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phaedrus29

Just notice this today...frown:

Anyone sorted out how to take care of this? Is this a bulb I can just replace myself?

Quote:

Originally Posted by stockysnail

Add me to the list now as well. Passenger brake in top corner.

Also another guy in my area had a few LEDs go out. I bought them used so I may be screwed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by anthonybrz

I just found out some of the LEDs went out in my TOM's yesterday. I contacted the seller and they said the warranty doesn't cover the LEDs, only the housing on the TOM's. Now I'm like

Do you guys have the clear or red TOMs?

ZOMBRZ · 08-07-2015, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funwheeldrive

Do you guys have the clear or red TOMs?

I have the same problem on my clear toms on the top left corner of my left light.... I've just tried to cope with it. It's hard though.

funwheeldrive · 08-08-2015, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZOMBRZ

I have the same problem on my clear toms on the top left corner of my left light.... I've just tried to cope with it. It's hard though.

Are your clears starting to melt too?

ZOMBRZ · 08-08-2015, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funwheeldrive

Are your clears starting to melt too?

Yea on both sides right at the top in the middle. The melting stopped though. Is this only with the clear ones?

funwheeldrive · 08-10-2015, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZOMBRZ

Yea on both sides right at the top in the middle. The melting stopped though. Is this only with the clear ones?

The melting only happens with the clear Toms from what I've read.

It would be interesting is the LEDs going out is a result of melting tails. This seems like a growing problem though.

Phaedrus29 · 08-10-2015, 01:08 PM

My LED went out on one of my red Toms, not the clear. I believe if you aren't under warranty then Toms USA will still offer you a replacement tail light at a discounted rate. The individual bulbs themselves are not replaceable.

XanRules · 09-09-2015, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phaedrus29

My LED went out on one of my red Toms, not the clear. I believe if you aren't under warranty then Toms USA will still offer you a replacement tail light at a discounted rate. The individual bulbs themselves are not replaceable.

do you have contact info for Tom's USA? All I can find is contact info on their japanese site for their JDM dealers.

XanRules · 10-03-2015, 06:13 PM

Just wanted to say that according to BuddyClub/TOMS USA, individual bits ARE replaceable but you've gotta crack open the taillight and solder in new relays.

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

rileymcmuffins · 12-16-2015, 10:05 PM

Any updates on these? I'm at the point now where I have no left side brake light and have a dead one on the right. I bought used and would like to repair vs buy

akiranakayama · 12-20-2015, 02:03 PM

It's a shame people are having problems with these tail lights. Tom's are some of the coolest units for the 86 platform.

Lotus Elise / Exige owners have had to deal with a very similar issue with the LED taillights of 2006 and later cars. I've had mine burn out as well. The issue with the OEM units is the resistors for the diodes are too weak, causing the LEDs to be overdriven and that shortens their service life. At least, that's what the forum consensus seems to be. Owners have cracked open the housings and desoldered the resistors and put in higher rated resistors and the problem hasn't come back since. The diodes are not as bright, but only just. Probably wouldn't even notice unless someone pointed it out.

Maybe that's the same thing going on here? :shrug:

LANI86 · 12-18-2016, 11:37 PM

Has anyone purchased the Red (DOT approved) TOMS lately and experienced any issues? I've gone through 2 OEM's due to condensation and thinking of putting TOMS on this time. I've been very hesitant reading through this topic as there is no true answer as to why the LED(s) is failing. I'm going to be patching up the gap between the metal and tail light with something more resistant and stronger this time, and I don't want the lighting to become another issue as the condensation is already a pain in the a**. Anyone with the Red TOMS longer than 3 years without any problem??

funwheeldrive · 12-21-2016, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LANI86

Has anyone purchased the Red (DOT approved) TOMS lately and experienced any issues? I've gone through 2 OEM's due to condensation and thinking of putting TOMS on this time. I've been very hesitant reading through this topic as there is no true answer as to why the LED(s) is failing. I'm going to be patching up the gap between the metal and tail light with something more resistant and stronger this time, and I don't want the lighting to become another issue as the condensation is already a pain in the a**. Anyone with the Red TOMS longer than 3 years without any problem??

I have owned my red TOMs for almost 2 years now. So far so good. The car is garaged in Northern California though, so it doesn't have to deal with the elements constantly. I try to regularly check them out to make sure nothing is burned out.

FX86 · 12-21-2016, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funwheeldrive

I have owned my red TOMs for almost 2 years now. So far so good. The car is garaged in Northern California though, so it doesn't have to deal with the elements constantly. I try to regularly check them out to make sure nothing is burned out.

out of curiosity..let's say one of the smd's is burned out..what do you do then? do they have a long warranty on those or are you out of luck then?

i guess the same questions can be applied to the stock lights if one of the leds die and your warranty on the car is expired....end up buying new or used ones that fully work?

i always thought about getting the aftermarket tail lights but all those tiny leds everywhere make me worry if they go bad then the whole look is off

funwheeldrive · 12-21-2016, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FX86

out of curiosity..let's say one of the smd's is burned out..what do you do then? do they have a long warranty on those or are you out of luck then?

i guess the same questions can be applied to the stock lights if one of the leds die and your warranty on the car is expired....end up buying new or used ones that fully work?

i always thought about getting the aftermarket tail lights but all those tiny leds everywhere make me worry if they go bad then the whole look is off

I worried about my Tom's failing before I pulled the trigger on them, but I also can't stand the OEM tails on a red 86.

If mine ever burn out I will probably just buy a set of used Kouki taillights. Hopefully they get pretty cheap over time.

12-20-2015, 02:03 PM	#38
akiranakayama Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Drives: 2013 Subaru BRZ Limited (CBS) Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 192 Thanks: 9 Thanked 63 Times in 48 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s)	It's a shame people are having problems with these tail lights. Tom's are some of the coolest units for the 86 platform. Lotus Elise / Exige owners have had to deal with a very similar issue with the LED taillights of 2006 and later cars. I've had mine burn out as well. The issue with the OEM units is the resistors for the diodes are too weak, causing the LEDs to be overdriven and that shortens their service life. At least, that's what the forum consensus seems to be. Owners have cracked open the housings and desoldered the resistors and put in higher rated resistors and the problem hasn't come back since. The diodes are not as bright, but only just. Probably wouldn't even notice unless someone pointed it out. Maybe that's the same thing going on here? :shrug: __________________ 2016 Scion FR-S 1991 Acura NSX 2012 Mazda Miata (Track) 2019 Triumph Bonneville Bobber 2007 Suzuki SV650 (Track)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Valenti / Lexon / Tom Tail lights, Winjet Headlights, Front Bumper lights and Mirrors	Speed Element	Exterior Parts - Lighting	224	12-06-2016 02:07 PM
TOM'S Racing JDM LED Tail Lights , Spyder LED Tail Lights, and JDM Side Markers!!	Evasive Motorsports	Exterior Parts - Lighting	94	12-18-2015 01:19 PM
FS/FT RED TOM'S LED USDM DOT Tail Lights FOR CLEAR TOM's LED Tail Lights	giants130	Exterior Parts (Aero, Lighting, Etc.)	4	04-28-2014 06:41 AM
WTT - My Vertex tail lights for Crystal eye tail lights	drftxx	Exterior Parts (Aero, Lighting, Etc.)	0	02-19-2014 10:34 PM
AT - Failed to downshift in manual mode	abutterman	Issues \| Warranty \| Recalls / TSB	26	03-14-2013 09:11 AM

08-10-2015, 01:08 PM	#34
Phaedrus29 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Drives: 2013 Subaru BRZ Location: PA Posts: 683 Thanks: 106 Thanked 248 Times in 133 Posts Mentioned: 10 Post(s)	My LED went out on one of my red Toms, not the clear. I believe if you aren't under warranty then Toms USA will still offer you a replacement tail light at a discounted rate. The individual bulbs themselves are not replaceable.

10-03-2015, 06:13 PM	#36
XanRules A Very Powerful Wizard Join Date: Mar 2014 Drives: 2014 BRZ LTD WRB (RIP), 2017 FiST Location: Portland Posts: 558 Thanks: 231 Thanked 245 Times in 154 Posts Mentioned: 10 Post(s)	Just wanted to say that according to BuddyClub/TOMS USA, individual bits ARE replaceable but you've gotta crack open the taillight and solder in new relays. Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

12-16-2015, 10:05 PM	#37
rileymcmuffins Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Drives: 14 FR-S Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 50 Thanks: 3 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s)	Any updates on these? I'm at the point now where I have no left side brake light and have a dead one on the right. I bought used and would like to repair vs buy

12-18-2016, 11:37 PM	#39
LANI86 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Drives: 2015 Scion FR-S Location: SoCal Posts: 178 Thanks: 3 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s)	Has anyone purchased the Red (DOT approved) TOMS lately and experienced any issues? I've gone through 2 OEM's due to condensation and thinking of putting TOMS on this time. I've been very hesitant reading through this topic as there is no true answer as to why the LED(s) is failing. I'm going to be patching up the gap between the metal and tail light with something more resistant and stronger this time, and I don't want the lighting to become another issue as the condensation is already a pain in the a**. Anyone with the Red TOMS longer than 3 years without any problem??

User Name		Remember Me?
Password