Interior Lights problem

[Atreyus]

My front console green defroster button light doesn't come on, rarely, sometimes when I hit bumps, and my rear cargo light that was on the auto switch on doesn't come on when I open the rear hatch. What could the problem be? And how much would it cost to fix it? I'm taking it in to my mechanic and see what he tells me, and what it would cost. Hopefully a few people had these problems and can chime in! Thanks!

 

[ironhippy]

Does the door ajar light on the dash turn on when you open your trunk?

My '98 had a problem where the trunk sensor would indicate the trunk was open when it was in fact closed. I had my mechanic disconnect (or ground?) the sensor wire so it would always read "closed" rather than fix the problem. So my trunk dome light no longer works on "auto" and the door ajar no longer works for the trunk.
Maybe a previous owner did something similar?

 

[Atreyus]

Does the door ajar light on the dash turn on when you open your trunk?

My '98 had a problem where the trunk sensor would indicate the trunk was open when it was in fact closed. I had my mechanic disconnect (or ground?) the sensor wire so it would always read "closed" rather than fix the problem. So my trunk dome light no longer works on "auto" and the door ajar no longer works for the trunk.
Maybe a previous owner did something similar?

I noticed that the light on the dash doesn't come on when I open the trunk, but it does come on when I open the doors. I'd like to fix this probably though. I like having all my lights and everything working lol.

 

[ironhippy]

I noticed that the light on the dash doesn't come on when I open the trunk, but it does come on when I open the doors. I'd like to fix this probably though. I like having all my lights and everything working lol.

if the light doesn't come on in the dash then your problem is around the rear trunk sensor.

I didn't care enough to start diagnosing the real issue, not having the dome or dash light has never bothered me in the year + that it's been gone.

 

[Atreyus]

So I fixed the defroster light, it was just a bad bulb/used connection cleaner that solved that. But I couldn't find any sensor in the rear tail gate area, I wiggled wires around and sprayed cleaner and still no dice. Any one have any similiar problems that fixed this? I'd like to have everything working.

 

[the great him]

So I fixed the defroster light, it was just a bad bulb/used connection cleaner that solved that. But I couldn't find any sensor in the rear tail gate area, I wiggled wires around and sprayed cleaner and still no dice. Any one have any similiar problems that fixed this? I'd like to have everything working.

yes mine does this, sometimes i comes on sometimes not... sometimes when its on it just goes out... i guess it just gets tired or being on or gets lazy idk. -in all reality its the light itself, not the bulb but the whole light assembly, its got a bad connection inside somewhere best fix is to buy a new fixture imo.

 

[Atreyus]

yes mine does this, sometimes i comes on sometimes not... sometimes when its on it just goes out... i guess it just gets tired or being on or gets lazy idk. -in all reality its the light itself, not the bulb but the whole light assembly, its got a bad connection inside somewhere best fix is to buy a new fixture imo.

Is it the light fixture itself? Because I noticed the light on the dash doesn't come on when the lift gate is open. Could it be a sensor somewhere? I can't seem to find it, I think I'll go to a junk yard and try and find that piece.

 

[the great him]

^well now you didnt say that, my dash light always comes on when the back gate isnt shut all the way or its open... idk but id try a new fixture...

 

[Atreyus]

When I took it in to a shop they said it's not sending a signal that it's open, so It has to be something in the rear tail gate, but I'm not sure what part it would be.

 

[Atreyus]

anyone else have any experiences with this? And found a fix?

 

[Atreyus]

So I went back in and took some pictures, but still haven't had any luck fixing this, I guess I'm going to have to take it in to the shop they quoted me $160 to fix it, $130 for the part from toyota.