door ajar light stays on, not a door switch or hatch, what else could it be

[Steve240]

Since submerging the 4runner about a month ago I've been working on fixing electrical issues. With great help from this forum I have the truck fully running I just have 2 things left the door ajar light stuck on and the 4wd drive light not illuminating.

I've taken all the door switches out, so they cannot go to ground, and removed the wiring to the hatch latch.

The door light stays on, if the overhead light is selected to door, then it illuminates, which means it's triggered from the doors, and the key cylinder light is on, which should also mean it's triggered from the driver side door. Even still with all switches removed it stays on. I also looked for any wires that could have been pinched or grounded out but everything looks normal.

Any thoughts on what to look at next?

Also does anyone know of where I can find the electrical wiring diagrams for a 1996. All of the FSM and wire diagrams i can find online refer to newer trucks. I think from 99 on the interior fuse box changed, so I am trying to find the diagram that shows which connector does what at that fuse box.

Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks

 

[TheDurk]

Here you go. Time to disconnect things at the aux. fuse box and see what happens.

 

[Steve240]

Here you go. Time to disconnect things at the aux. fuse box and see what happens.

Thanks Durk, do you have a download link to the entire wiring manual that you attached. That diagram you posted is different then the one I've been looking at.

 

[TheDurk]

Thanks Durk, do you have a download link to the entire wiring manual that you attached. That diagram you posted is different then the one I've been looking at.

PM'd you something.It's not complete, but it's all I have for '96.

 

[Steve240]

those Electrical drawings are great thank you.

So now with these drawings in hand this makes even less sense to me. So I'm going to explain what I've done below and please let me know if I am reading this correctly.

So from the fuse box/integrated relay, I've disconnected 1A and 1F. Those connectors rule out all doors except the driver side correct?

The driver side goes right into the integrated relay 12 pin connector, pin 5. I disconnect that from the front of the fuse panel and the light is still on! I even then removed the entire integrated relay from the fuse box leaving only connect 1J plugged in and the light still stays on. This happens with two different integrated relays and fuse boxes.

 

[IBallEngineer]

those Electrical drawings are great thank you.

So now with these drawings in hand this makes even less sense to me. So I'm going to explain what I've done below and please let me know if I am reading this correctly.

So from the fuse box/integrated relay, I've disconnected 1A and 1F. Those connectors rule out all doors except the driver side correct?

The driver side goes right into the integrated relay 12 pin connector, pin 5. I disconnect that from the front of the fuse panel and the light is still on! I even then removed the entire integrated relay from the fuse box leaving only connect 1J plugged in and the light still stays on. This happens with two different integrated relays and fuse boxes.

Yes 1A and 1F rule out those doors and their wiring.

Question, with 1K disconnected is the light still on? If so, the problem is upstream of the door switch circuits. I would find the connector 3B on the steering column and see if you have continuity to ground on any of the circuits, but specifically pin 3 because that comes from the Door Ajar light through a diode. If you do then the problem is moving toward the Comb Meter itself, or it's wiring.

 

[Steve240]

Yes 1A and 1F rule out those doors and their wiring.

Question, with 1K disconnected is the light still on? If so, the problem is upstream of the door switch circuits. I would find the connector 3B on the steering column and see if you have continuity to ground on any of the circuits, but specifically pin 3 because that comes from the Door Ajar light through a diode. If you do then the problem is moving toward the Comb Meter itself, or it's wiring.

Still dickin around with this problem when the weather is nice enough to play with wires. With 1K disconnected the door ajar light is till on.

3B based on what I see in the wiring diagram is not on the steering column, it's way up near the fire wall beside the steering column. When I disconnect 3B connector for that block the light does go out. I checked continuity to ground and i have it on pin, 2, 6, 8, &9, not on pin 3 though.

One other thing I found when following red/white wires was the anti theft control box under the seat. It is in fd shape, filled with mud and completely fried. I can't find any wiring diagrams in the link you provided me for anti theft, maybe its a limited thing only. Based on the 1999+ wiring diagram it does have connections to the door ajar switches so this is my best lead at this time. I wasn't able to find one at a local wrecker though.

 

[TheDurk]

Still dickin around with this problem when the weather is nice enough to play with wires. With 1K disconnected the door ajar light is till on.

3B based on what I see in the wiring diagram is not on the steering column, it's way up near the fire wall beside the steering column. When I disconnect 3B connector for that block the light does go out. I checked continuity to ground and i have it on pin, 2, 6, 8, &9, not on pin 3 though.

One other thing I found when following red/white wires was the anti theft control box under the seat. It is in fd shape, filled with mud and completely fried. I can't find any wiring diagrams in the link you provided me for anti theft, maybe its a limited thing only. Based on the 1999+ wiring diagram it does have connections to the door ajar switches so this is my best lead at this time. I wasn't able to find one at a local wrecker though.

'96 anti-theft was port/dealer add-on only. I have no diagrams for that. Those systems are always first suspect, even when not filled with mud.

 

[Steve240]

Okay good to know. Seems to be a lot of wiring for a dealer option, Would all trucks have the wiring going under the seat and dealer just adds the box, or would the dealer actually change out wiring harness'? Being a dealer option will make it extra hard to find then. I was planning on heading to a you pick it auto yard today but it's a decent drive with no way to know.

 

[TheDurk]

Okay good to know. Seems to be a lot of wiring for a dealer option, Would all trucks have the wiring going under the seat and dealer just adds the box, or would the dealer actually change out wiring harness'? Being a dealer option will make it extra hard to find then. I was planning on heading to a you pick it auto yard today but it's a decent drive with no way to know.

It was called an RS3000, and was pretty common on '96-'98. ('99 on had builti-in keyless entry, so the anti-theft system was different.) On the early trucks, the RS3000 was the only way to get keyless entry, so a lot of them had them. I have a '99, so I don't know the details of the installation.