Dash Lights out 1999 SR5

[johndavidwright]

hey guys, this is my first post on here as i just recently joined the 4runner club.

I have a 99 SR5 V6 and the dash lights are completely out. The previous owner is a good friend of mine and was the second owner. He said he believes the lights went out after an aftermarket radio install, but it has been a while.

I opened up the dash and looked at the wiring harness and the orange dimmer wires from the truck were wired together. I cut those and capped them off. Dash lights still didn't work.

I replaced the tail fuse and tail relay and still nothing.

I also unplugged the dimmer switch, which only has 3 wires going to it, and tried to jump it off, but that didn't work either.

Any ideas? I've done a lot of searching so if I missed something I apologize in advance.

 

[Shanegpoe]

hey guys, this is my first post on here as i just recently joined the 4runner club.

I have a 99 SR5 V6 and the dash lights are completely out. The previous owner is a good friend of mine and was the second owner. He said he believes the lights went out after an aftermarket radio install, but it has been a while.

I opened up the dash and looked at the wiring harness and the orange dimmer wires from the truck were wired together. I cut those and capped them off. Dash lights still didn't work.

I replaced the tail fuse and tail relay and still nothing.

I also unplugged the dimmer switch, which only has 3 wires going to it, and tried to jump it off, but that didn't work either.

Any ideas? I've done a lot of searching so if I missed something I apologize in advance.

Have you tried changing the bulbs? They are super easy to change takes about 10 minutes to get to.
Im changing some tonight if i have time ill take pictures and get the bulb size names for you and post them when i do if you want.

 

[johndavidwright]

Have you tried changing the bulbs? They are super easy to change takes about 10 minutes to get to.
Im changing some tonight if i have time ill take pictures and get the bulb size names for you and post them when i do if you want.

I forgot to mention that the climate control lights are out too, so I don't think it has anything to do with the bulbs, but that would be great if you could post the bulb size names. It's worth ruling that out.

 

[Shanegpoe]

I forgot to mention that the climate control lights are out too, so I don't think it has anything to do with the bulbs, but that would be great if you could post the bulb size names. It's worth ruling that out.

the bulb # is a 194 just for the back lighting and pretty much everything else is a bulb # 72 and they're EXTREMELY easy to get to.but if ALL the lights are out you have more problems than just bulbs being out... have you checked all your fuses? under the hood too?

 

[Shanegpoe]

Check out this link,
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/58227-led-dash-lights-changing.html

98Piranha Listed out ALL the bulbs in dash and guages here... this just gives an idea of all the bulb numbers. Doesnt really help to find the issue. Still interesting.

 

[johndavidwright]

the bulb # is a 194 just for the back lighting and pretty much everything else is a bulb # 72 and they're EXTREMELY easy to get to.but if ALL the lights are out you have more problems than just bulbs being out... have you checked all your fuses? under the hood too?

Yeah. Under the hood and under the dash. My Tail fuse was blown so I replaced it and it still didn't work.

 

[Shanegpoe]

Yeah. Under the hood and under the dash. My Tail fuse was blown so I replaced it and it still didn't work.

MAN... Im not sure.. i guess I'd just try replacing bulbs, maybe check the three diffrent harnesses that plug into the back of gauges and make sure they are still getting power, other than that im stumped..? sounds irritating though.

 

[johndavidwright]

MAN... Im not sure.. i guess I'd just try replacing bulbs, maybe check the three diffrent harnesses that plug into the back of gauges and make sure they are still getting power, other than that im stumped..? sounds irritating though.

yeah it's super annoying. is there a diagram somewhere that shows which wires in the harness bring power?

 

[Riceye]

Here's the shared circuit for the tail lights and dash illumination.

 

[kernel.panik]

...I opened up the dash and looked at the wiring harness and the orange dimmer wires from the truck were wired together. I cut those and capped them off. Dash lights still didn't work.

...

I also unplugged the dimmer switch, which only has 3 wires going to it, and tried to jump it off, but that didn't work either...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you need the dimmer wires connected.

Think of the dimmer switch in normal operation:
All the way clockwise, full brightness.
All the way counter-clockwize, zero brightness.

With the dimmer wires capped off, you are at zero brightness....

 

[johndavidwright]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you need the dimmer wires connected.

Think of the dimmer switch in normal operation:
All the way clockwise, full brightness.
All the way counter-clockwize, zero brightness.

With the dimmer wires capped off, you are at zero brightness....

The dimmer wires on the radio harness effect the dash lights?

 

[Riceye]

10A fuse for panel lamps next to the tail lamp fuse in fuse box under the hood.

 

[kernel.panik]

The dimmer wires on the radio harness effect the dash lights?

Sorry, didn't realize you were talking about the radio wires.
I thought you meant the dash dimmer!

:biggrin1:

 

[johndavidwright]

hey everyone, i figured it out. my dimmer switch was dead. tested with a multimeter and it didn't show any resistance while i turned the knob. i tested the dimmer switch harness and found out there were 2- 12 volt leads and 1 ground wire. i jumped 1 of the 12 volt wires and the ground and i heard the fuse pop. replaced the fuse and jumped the other 12 volt wire and it worked! i just taped the wire in place and put the dash back together. thanks for everyone's reply!