LED Interior Tailgate Light Always On?

Hi everyone,

I just got a 2015 Toyota 4Runner Trail and I love it so far. My first upgrade was an interior LED light kit. It was a cheap yet highly reviewed set on Amazon. And so far they’re great.

I just noticed that the rear tailgate light (interior) seems to always be on but at a very dim low power mode if the switch is on the automatic “door” position when the tailgate is down (imagine you’re in the car looking in the cargo area with the doors closed and the automatic timer turns the other dome lights off).
I don’t think it was doing this with the old yellow lights. I stayed in the car for about 10 minutes to make sure it’s not some automatic timer thing. I only noticed it today after a week of installing the lights (only because it was at night)

Has anyone run into this?

for now, I switched the lights to the off position so it doesn’t drain the battery or wear out the lights being constantly on at a very low power mode.

I attached a photo of it, the light on the left is what I’m describing, and the one on the right does the same but I switched that to the off position for the sake of the photo.

thank you all in advance!

 

Did you replace just the bulbs for LED, or the whole light assembly?

 

I just replaced the LED bulbs and kept the stock housing/assembly.

 

I was thinking it might be the polarity thing. Some LED bulbs don't work if they are inserted backwards, and you have to reverse them, but I've not heard of them still staying on, however dim, because of that. I didn't even know there was an on/door/off setting for the tailgate lights, unless that's on newer models. I thought they just came on when you open the tailgate. Dome light, yeah, but tailgate? News to me.

 

We know you're gonna take a peek at your hatch lights, now. My '18 SR5 has the off/door open/always on, 3 way switch. Door open mode will turn off after 15 (+-) mins. if the hatch is open.

 

Is that switch on the hatch door lights themselves? I haven't looked...I replaced the stock enclosures with the Meso Customs Ultimates, and didn't notice then either. I figure the only time I need those lights on is when the hatch is open, so I didn't look for any other switch settings.