Dome light fuse always burn !?! Limited 04 V8

[Mchabot001]

Hi guys !

im new to this forum, I found it while searching on the net to get help for my electrical problem ! I believe that I will find good advise in this forum !

So here it goes...

I just bought an 2004 4runner v8 Limited and it run great (my first 4runner !!)

I discovered that my dome light fuse always burn for no apparent reason. Some told me that the running step light socket maybe the cause of the short. I disconnected all 4 sockets from the light and tried another fuse. It was not all-in place that it's snapped again ... I am not kind of an electrical guy usually hehehe but now I am trying to figure what's the problem here.

Also here is some other little problem that occur because of the burned fuse(maybe it can help getting the finger on the problem)

- the gauge indicator of the Speedo, Rpm and gaz shake a little bit when i start the car. after couple second it replace itself. but when i have a non-burned dome fuse in place it won't shake. the indicator places itself like it suposed to do.

-The ''trip'' A and B to calculate milleage and the clock always reset itself. Each time I get in the car the trip are back to 0 and the clock back to 1pm

Also the anti-theft block my remote starter to start the car if the key is not in the ignition (but that may have nothing to do with that dome fuse)

Thanks a lot guy ! can't wait to read you answers !

And sorry for my bad english it is not my primary languauge

Maxime

 

[gshadow325]

since you just bought the car. you know nothing on its history. So you will have to get it back to square one. electrical problems are created by owners and stuff they had install and then reinstall incorrectly, it just doesnt go bad.

-depending on your skill level with 12volt electronics. i would say since you are asking this question, is a beginner.

i would do the following first.

-list here all your aftermarket equipment in vehicle, LED lights, remote start, aftermarket radio, dvd over enterainment system, rear led light bar, aftermarket fog lights, trailer hitch, ect ect.

that list can help us narrow down your problem.

 

[Mchabot001]

Hi ! Thanks for you fast answer !

On the vehicule there is nothing special that was installed like aftermarket LED, dvd or radio or anything else. It's all stock equipment

There is a hitch installed, remote control (I believe it's stock from dealer since every 4runner i visited before buying had the same remote control)

One funny thing is the buzzer for the unhooked seat belt don't ring ... Maybe the last owner cut a wire to stop listening to that belt buzzer ... I read on internet that the belt buzzer circuit and the dome light circuit are ofen related.

Is those info helping ?

Thanks

 

[gshadow325]

My 03 does not have seat belt ringing buzzer.

 

[gshadow325]

here is your process to elimination

1:
- remove all four door panel lights. disconnect them from the OEM wire harness
-remove center domelight
-remove rear cargo dome light

2lug in a new fuse. SAME SIZE AS FACTORY RECOMMENDATION, you can go smaller if you do not have same size. DO NOT, I AM TYPING THIS IN BOLD SO YOU WILL SEE IT AND I AM CLEAR. DO NOT PUT IN A LARGER FUSE. you can, might or will make matters worse by melting wires.

3: open the door and see if the fuse blows.
a: no? then go to d:
b: yes, remove the driver's a pillar (the handle at the left side of the windshield)
c: remove pillar post and disconnect the harness at the bottom the windshield on the left. what you are doing is disconnecting the top wire harness on the roof. if there is a problem up there and disconnecting this, you narrow down your problem to the roof area.
d: plug in one of the door lights. see if it still works if it does, proceed to the next door then the next dome light. until you find out which one blows the fuse.

the one that blows the fuse then it narrows it down to that peticular door.

if all of the ones above doesnt help. come back here and let me know what you find out

 

[Mchabot001]

Very kind of you to explain that to me !

I will try that on my dinner time today !

I will be back asap with the test results

Thanks

 

[sigepbiker]

3: open the door and see if the fuse blows.
b: yes, remove the driver's a pillar (the handle at the left side of the windshield)
c: remove pillar post and disconnect the harness at the bottom the windshield on the left. what you are doing is disconnecting the top wire harness on the roof. if there is a problem up there and disconnecting this, you narrow down your problem to the roof area.

I thought the roof wiring connects to the fuse box under the driver kick panel. I've outlined it in red below. This will also disconnect more than just the roof harness, I'm not sure what all else on that connector

I never saw a connector in Pillar A when I had it removed for the dome light mod. You have a picture?

 

[gshadow325]

That's good to know, I do so many cars I must have gotten it confused with another vehicle I worked on recently. You are right. That's good to disconnect all the stuff up top so you can rule that out. Just to give you an example of the vehicles that I worked on today, 2014 mini pace man, 2014 country man, 1989 Chevy Blazer, 2013 acura mdx, and 97 dodge Dakota. That's just today

 

[Mchabot001]

Thanks for all those info guys ! I didn't had the time to work on the car yet to busy with boat winterizing, week-end at the chalet ... I'll be working to find out the problem this week !

 

[Mchabot001]

Ok guys ! finally got time to play on the truck ! Before starting from 0 i did a call to the last owner and he gave me a hint... he told me the mechanic guy at his garage told him the short was coming from the the wires going to the step light on the right side !! So that was a very good place to begin the search ! I did not have to search to far before finding a pair of used wire that were shorting together... a quick repair with 2 layer shrink tube later and my problem look like to be solved ! now 1 week and no burned fuse !! I would like to thanks you that took time to answer my question you answer were very usefull !!

 

[Silver_05T4R]

I don't have enough to create a new thread so hoping someone on this thread may be able to help...

I recently bought a 05 SRS and there are two things that I'm still scratching my head for -

1. The side mirror controls do not work. The combination of this and the below item w/ previous owner's explanation makes me question my purchase, but he had service records and everything else in the car (besides some wear) seems intact. Anyways, the mirrors cannot be adjusted and I had to physically do it, and I'm the only driver but would like this fixed if possible. The owner claimed the harness was disconnected when he took out his aftermarket radio but I highly doubt that.

2. None of the interior lights seem to work (dash is fine). I checked the 10A fuse under the hood but it's not blown. For safe measure, I swapped it out with the spare that's in there and still nothing. The owner at the time when I asked suggested it's likely a blown fuse but that's obviously not the case and he clearly knew this wasn't working and I didn't check for it.

I'm tempted to pickup bulbs to test out if the lights work but also, what are the realistic chances this guy just didn't replace every light that went out over time.

Anyone have any other suggestions I should consider, although I do realize trying new bulbs is likely the cheapest next idea. If all else fails, I plan to install some portable lights but wanted to check here first.

 

[AuSeeker]

I don't have enough to create a new thread so hoping someone on this thread may be able to help...

I recently bought a 05 SRS and there are two things that I'm still scratching my head for -

1. The side mirror controls do not work. The combination of this and the below item w/ previous owner's explanation makes me question my purchase, but he had service records and everything else in the car (besides some wear) seems intact. Anyways, the mirrors cannot be adjusted and I had to physically do it, and I'm the only driver but would like this fixed if possible. The owner claimed the harness was disconnected when he took out his aftermarket radio but I highly doubt that.

2. None of the interior lights seem to work (dash is fine). I checked the 10A fuse under the hood but it's not blown. For safe measure, I swapped it out with the spare that's in there and still nothing. The owner at the time when I asked suggested it's likely a blown fuse but that's obviously not the case and he clearly knew this wasn't working and I didn't check for it.

I'm tempted to pickup bulbs to test out if the lights work but also, what are the realistic chances this guy just didn't replace every light that went out over time.

Anyone have any other suggestions I should consider, although I do realize trying new bulbs is likely the cheapest next idea. If all else fails, I plan to install some portable lights but wanted to check here first.

Not sure what to tell you on your mirrors, for your interior light, did you just look at the fuse or pull it out and swap it for a known good fuse, or test the fuse for continuity with a multi-meter?

I ask because many times a fuse can be blown but look like it's good at a causal glance.