Dash lights wont work

[doug718]

I'm a newbie here. I just purchased a 1997 4Runner Limited in great condition. I failed to check the tail lights when purchasing. No tail lights and replaced fuse under the hood.Tail lights work but no dash lights. The push in bulbs for the heat/ac panel and the ash tray are easily accessible. Those sockets have voltage on both sides of the socket. The instrument panel indicator lights work(seat belt, air bag, door open & misc work.) There are no dash lights that work when the running or head lights are on. I'm told I have a ground fault somewhere.I replaced the dimmer switch and have voltage there. Can you guys steer me in the right direction?

 

[chimpy]

If you have voltage on each side of the sockets then there is a bad ground.

Better get a schematic for the IPC.

 

[TXRick]

I'm a newbie here. I just purchased a 1997 4Runner Limited in great condition. I failed to check the tail lights when purchasing. No tail lights and replaced fuse under the hood.Tail lights work but no dash lights. The push in bulbs for the heat/ac panel and the ash tray are easily accessible. Those sockets have voltage on both sides of the socket. The instrument panel indicator lights work(seat belt, air bag, door open & misc work.) There are no dash lights that work when the running or head lights are on. I'm told I have a ground fault somewhere.I replaced the dimmer switch and have voltage there. Can you guys steer me in the right direction?

I was going to say make sure your dimmer switch is turned the right way but sounds like you checked that. I've "fixed" 3 cars this year by turning that knob when the owner couldn't figure it out

Are talking all dash light or just the cluster?

 

[IBallEngineer]

I'm a newbie here. I just purchased a 1997 4Runner Limited in great condition. I failed to check the tail lights when purchasing. No tail lights and replaced fuse under the hood.Tail lights work but no dash lights. The push in bulbs for the heat/ac panel and the ash tray are easily accessible. Those sockets have voltage on both sides of the socket. The instrument panel indicator lights work(seat belt, air bag, door open & misc work.) There are no dash lights that work when the running or head lights are on. I'm told I have a ground fault somewhere.I replaced the dimmer switch and have voltage there. Can you guys steer me in the right direction?

We can solve it. Very easy circuit to troubleshoot. When you say you have "voltage" on both sides of the socket, are you actually getting 12V, or just lighting a light. And did you pull the bulb for this test? If you didn't pull the bulb, in the absence of ground you would indicate voltage at both sides, albeit reduced on one side.

Every bulb in the instrument panel lighting circuit grounds through the rheostat, often called a dimmer. You must check for ground at the rheostat! With the connector connected, you should have FULL ground at Terminal 2. If you do, check ground at T3, that is the wire that is connected to the bulbs. You should get varying resistance to ground based on which way you turn the rheostat. If you have ground at T2, but not at T3 the rheostat is bad. If you have ground at both, it's time to check the connections. Principally connector 3F at the right side of the steering column.

:couch2:

 

[doug718]

Thanks guys for responding. Let me answer a few of your questions. I am using a volt meter, 12 plus volts not running-14 volts running. I did remove the bulbs when checking voltage.I'm not sure what terminal #'s are. Is there a way to by-pass the rheostat?

 

[IBallEngineer]

Thanks guys for responding. Let me answer a few of your questions. I am using a volt meter, 12 plus volts not running-14 volts running. I did remove the bulbs when checking voltage.I'm not sure what terminal #'s are. Is there a way to by-pass the rheostat?

Yes, but let's test it first. You need to have it accessible, and test the terminals I stated. The connector will be marked with the #'s.