problem with licence plate light

problem with licence plate light

I just failed inspection because my licence plate light doesn't work and a new bulb didn't fix it. I have a 2001 Corolla and all of the other lights appear to be working. Any ideas?

check the fuse and check the contacts.

i dont know which fuse it is.. the sticker is gone inside my coin box and it doesnt say in the manual

Licence plate light? what licdnce plate light? I don't have that in my 01 CE. LOL
Do you have the owner manual? It shows all your fuses location. I knew it coz I just blew a fuse couple weeks ago.
If you can't find it, maybe I can take a pic of that page for you.

You could pull each fuse and inspect it-- they usually have a visible link that fuses inside.

Also, are you sure it's the fuse? The license plate light shares a fuse with the parking lights-- which is why they all come on at once when you turn on the parking lights. If the parking lights are working, it's the ground wire or the feed for the bulb itself. The feed may come out of a wiring harness, and the ground will often be direct to the frame. Also, check for corrosion in the lamp assembly-- the license plate light may get moisture in it more easily than some of the other exterior lights.

the parking lights work so i guess its not a fuse.. i cant find that fuse location page in my manual.. the lamp assembly doesnt look corroded.. where should i look for the problem?

There's a panel across the back of the trunk that can be removed fairly easily. From there, you can find the wires that go to the license plate lights. On some lights, the ground is done to the frame rather than returning all the way to the wiring harnesses-- I didn't remove the panel so I'm not sure how it works. There could be a quick-connect block that you can undo and snap back together, that could do the trick.