Gauge lights out. Bulbs or fuse?

domstriker

domstriker

New member
I just brought home an 01 t4r ltd yesterday. Was driving last night and realized that lights that illuminate the speedo, tach, and fuel gauge were dead. Dimmer switch didn't do squat.

My question is, what fuse controls these bulbs? I pulled out all of the little fuses in the box in the engine compartment and they were all good. Is it the dimmer relay that controls it? I couldn't get that one out.

I just want to make sure that it's not a fuse before I take apart the dash.
 
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I just brought home an 01 t4r ltd yesterday. Was driving last night and realized that the lights that illuminate the speedo, tach, and fuel gauge were dead. Dimmer switch didn't do squat.

My question is, what fuse controls these bulbs? I pulled out all of the little fuses in the box in the engine compartment and they were all good. Is it the dimmer relay that controls it? I couldn't get that one out.

I just want to make sure that it's not a fuse before I take apart the dash.
 
Had the same problem on my 2000 purchase recently. The fuse that controls the instrument cluster light also controls the tail lights I believe so check and make sure they are working. If they are, it's not the fuse. If you can get to the dimmer switch you can check and see if it is getting power. if so, you have a bad switch. Since you bought used, check and make sure no one pulled the engine light bulb while you are in there ... sometimes the dimmer is broken when folks go in an pull the bulb.
 
domstriker said:
I just brought home an 01 t4r ltd yesterday. Was driving last night and realized that lights that illuminate the speedo, tach, and fuel gauge were dead. Dimmer switch didn't do squat.

My question is, what fuse controls these bulbs? I pulled out all of the little fuses in the box in the engine compartment and they were all good. Is it the dimmer relay that controls it? I couldn't get that one out.

I just want to make sure that it's not a fuse before I take apart the dash.
Click to expand...

did you check the fuse panel in the car??

sit in driver seat, look down and to left, little handle on it, pull...
 
I just pulled out my instrument panel. I thought that the stock bulbs were 194's. These definitely don't look like 194's. It's like a tri-led....Sorry about the crappy cell phone pics. Unfortunately, I don't have an ohm meter.

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have they ever worked??

or could the guy that put them in have reversed the polarity, and then just decided he didnt need to go back in and fix it??

??

I would still bet on a connection or relay or something like that..
 
Duhockey said:
have they ever worked??

or could the guy that put them in have reversed the polarity, and then just decided he didnt need to go back in and fix it??

??

I would still bet on a connection or relay or something like that..
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I just got the vehicle yesterday. Does it matter which way the actual bulb goes into the little plastic thing or does it matter which way I plug it into the instrument backing?
 
domstriker said:
I just got the vehicle yesterday. Does it matter which way the actual bulb goes into the little plastic thing or does it matter which way I plug it into the instrument backing?
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Yes it does, LEDs do have polarity, I had to turn several of mine around the opposite way to get them working.
 
Duhockey said:
Yes it does, LEDs do have polarity, I had to turn several of mine around the opposite way to get them working.
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How do I ensure that I have the LEDs in the correct way w/o putting them in their spot and putting everything back together? Does the '01 Ltd come with LED's or bulbs? I thought that it came stock with bulbs which means that whoever owned it before me was tinkering around in there.

So I put everything back together b/c I have to work in the morning. I put the LED's back in and they still don't work. I don't think that it's the dimmer switch b/c it will still dim the radio, HAVC, and gear shift illumination.
 
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domstriker said:
How do I ensure that I have the LEDs in the correct way w/o putting them in their spot and putting everything back together? Does the '01 Ltd come with LED's or bulbs? I thought that it came stock with bulbs which means that whoever owned it before me was tinkering around in there.

So I put everything back together b/c I have to work in the morning. I put the LED's back in and they still don't work. I don't think that it's the dimmer switch b/c it will still dim the radio, HAVC, and gear shift illumination.
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ok, if the dimmer is still working on everything else then its upstream from that..
did you try the LEDs both ways??

I guess the next step is to buy a bulb and see if it works, I cant imagine all of them going out at once, but I guess they didnt have to all go out at once since you just got the car, they may have gone out before...

have you asked the person you got the 4runner from when the lights last worked??
 
upgrading the gauge panel to color of choice LEDs is a popular mod. He probably bought them from a cheap source and they have just gone bad. Some here that have done that mod have replaced certain bulbs more than once a year.....because they bought cheap.

here you can see what your stock bulbs are:
2001 Toyota 4Runner Car Light Bulb Size Diagram

and if you dig around this thread pretty thuroughly you can probably figure out which LEDs to use as a replacement:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/35104-led-lighting-13.html

It will probably cost you less than $20 to get your instument panel lit again in the color of your choice
 
Duhockey said:
ok, if the dimmer is still working on everything else then its upstream from that..
did you try the LEDs both ways??

I guess the next step is to buy a bulb and see if it works, I cant imagine all of them going out at once, but I guess they didnt have to all go out at once since you just got the car, they may have gone out before...

have you asked the person you got the 4runner from when the lights last worked??
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I bought it from a dealership. Is there any way to test correct polarity other than putting it in the instrument panel and hooking up the battery?
 
domstriker said:
I bought it from a dealership. Is there any way to test correct polarity other than putting it in the instrument panel and hooking up the battery?
Click to expand...

why was the battery discoed?? yeah, you need to turn the key and test it when its out...

before you put the dash back in, test them all both ways,
 
Duhockey said:
why was the battery discoed?? yeah, you need to turn the key and test it when its out...

before you put the dash back in, test them all both ways,
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I was just following the directions from another thread on here. The thread said to disconnect the battery.

I just ordered some new LEDs. Thanks for the diagnostic help!

I just noticed you're in CO. Where you at? CO Springs here.
 
domstriker said:
I was just following the directions from another thread on here. The thread said to disconnect the battery.

I just ordered some new LEDs. Thanks for the diagnostic help!

I just noticed you're in CO. Where you at? CO Springs here.
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Littleton/Centennial area,

Well, when you get the new LEDs be sure to let us know if that fixes it... I cant believe the dealership wouldnt have checked out the lights to make sure they worked before they sold it to you?
 
if in case your problem is with both your gauges and running tail lights not working, as well as your front markers, it's a fuse

there is a 10 amp fuse that always blew for me. Its in the fuse box under the hood and it's called TAIL 10AMP

It kills the corners, tail lights (not brakes. running lights when the lights are switched to ON), and the interior lights.

I blew through something like 5 fuses so I swapped it with a 15Amp about a year ago, no problems since.

course its the upsidedown one :D

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23201d1260665665-tail-lights-guage-lights-pc120507.jpg
 
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