Electrical Issues

[bustamove196]

I have a 93 4runner, sr5 v6 4x4, and the lights back lighting the gauges and console no longer turn on when I turn the headlights on. Occasionally, the light will flicker and stay on, but the majority of the time it is off, making driving at night not-so-great. Also, the car permanently believes that the parking brake is on, when it isn't. Occasionally, this indicator light will flicker on and off. Any solutions? Bad fuses, bad wires, act of God? haha... Can a computer failure cause this?

Thanks in advance for the advice.
Cheers,
-Matt

 

[drmorbius]

I have a 93 4runner, sr5 v6 4x4, and the lights back lighting the gauges and console no longer turn on when I turn the headlights on. Occasionally, the light will flicker and stay on, but the majority of the time it is off, making driving at night not-so-great. Also, the car permanently believes that the parking brake is on, when it isn't. Occasionally, this indicator light will flicker on and off. Any solutions? Bad fuses, bad wires, act of God? haha... Can a computer failure cause this?

Thanks in advance for the advice.
Cheers,
-Matt

The rheostat that adjusts gauge brightness may be dirty and need to be cleaned with contact cleaner or you may just have to buy a new one. The other problem sounds like a stuck or bad switch or low brake fluid level in the master cylinder.

 

[createbmx]

Re: Re: Electrical Issues

The rheostat that adjusts gauge brightness may be dirty and need to be cleaned with contact cleaner or you may just have to buy a new one.

Is this as obvious as it sounds...just unscrew the rheostat and clean it?

I have the similar issue where only the "AC" light is on, but no light for the HVAC, Stereo or the shifter. Kinda sucks not knowing for sure that I am in drive and not reverse.

 

[bustamove196]

New development. The taillights apparently are not working now either, so there must be some sort of relay connected to the backlighting and the taillights, as these only turn on when the headlights are on. It is not the potentiometer behind the dimmer switch. Any ideas??? I'm really strapped for time, and I need to get this fixed asap. I need you guys, as I have no money, haha.

Thanks a million,
Matt

 

[bustamove196]

New Development: All is well. I looked at a wiring diagram, and it was just the taillight fuse! It was loose, so I pushed back in place. Also, the brake light was caused by low brake fluid. That's topped off, too, and everything is ship shape.

Thanks,
Matt