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Toyota Driver’s Taillight Burns Out. So She Heads To Walmart To Get A Push Light Instead

'I feel like buying the actual bulbs would be cheaper.'

A Houston woman’s taillight burns out

Photo by: Unsplash.com

Alexandra Samuels

By: Alexandra Samuels

Mar 13, at 6:00am ET

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A Houston-area woman is going viral on TikTok after sharing a workaround she came up with for a burnt-out taillight.

In a recent video, Ashlyn (@littlemiss8six) says one of the taillights on her Toyota GR86 stopped working. Instead of replacing it, she says she picked up a cheap push light from Walmart and stuck it on the back of the car.

"Buying a push light from Walmart instead of replacing the tail light bc I’m a #youngho," Ashlyn wrote in the text overlay of the clip.

She then pans the camera to the rear of the vehicle, where viewers can clearly see the makeshift setup and the difference between the two lights.

Even so, Ashlyn claims the workaround has gone unnoticed by police so far.

"& guess what, I’ve gotten a ticket for everything but the tail light," she wrote in the caption of the video. As of this writing, the video has drawn more than 745,800 views on TikTok.

What Is A Push Light?

A push light is a small, battery-powered LED light designed to stick to a surface and turn on with a tap. On Walmart’s website, they’re sold as simple household lights for areas without built-in lighting, such as closets or cabinets.

Most push lights attach with adhesive, which makes them easy to install without tools. You press the center of the light to turn it on and off, and the LEDs provide a quick burst of brightness in dark spaces.

While they’re commonly used inside homes, people sometimes stick them in cars as well. Drivers may place them in areas such as the trunk or glove box if they want extra illumination without wiring in a permanent light.

Using one as a taillight, however, isn’t what they’re designed for. Push lights are meant to provide temporary lighting and should not serve as a replacement for exterior vehicle lights that are part of a car’s safety system.

How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Taillight?

If a taillight burns out, the usual fix is to replace either the bulb or the entire taillight assembly, depending on the car. Costs can vary widely, though a basic bulb at Walmart typically costs fewer than $20, according to its website.

Labor cost for a service like a busted taillight usually isn’t too high, though shops may still charge for installation, depending on the vehicle and how easy it is to access the taillight.

Of course, the thought of paying more for a car service is likely why some drivers look for cheaper workarounds, even if those fixes aren’t exactly what the product was meant for.

Viewers Encourage Woman To Replace Light

Commenters who saw Ashlyn’s video didn’t seem too impressed with the workaround she used. Many said it was likely only a matter of time before police noticed the makeshift fix.

"Let me know what the police say," one commenter joked.

Another viewer urged her to swap out the light.

"Girl on your sports car too pls replace the light," the person wrote.

Several others focused on the price of a replacement bulb, noting that the quick fix Ashlyn showed likely costs about the same as simply buying the real part.

"They literally like $7 bucks," one viewer pointed out.

"I feel like buying the actual bulbs would be cheaper," another person wrote.

"They’re like $12, please," a third commenter added.

"Mind you, the bulb was probably the same price," a fourth viewer wrote.

Still, a few people admitted they’d tried similar quick fixes when dealing with broken lights on their own cars.

"Did this with my front lights on one of my cars," one woman wrote.

"My bf replaced his broken light with a trailer light," another commenter shared.

What do you think?

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"I used a headlamp taped to it bc my wiring was out," a third person said.

Motor1 has reached out to Ashlyn via a direct message on TikTok. We will update this story if she responds.

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