Just purchase and still cant fix first 4 Runner

2

20004runner

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I just purchased a 2000 4 Runner Sr5 with 44,000 miles and the problem I have is that The High Beams do not work.

The guy I bought it from said he had it at his Toyota Garage and they said it was the Daytime Running Light Relay so I ordered it and installed it with no success. I then replaced the headlight bulbs and also tried the actual column headlight switch. Still no fix. What I do notice is this the headlights can only be turned on when the truck is running and not just key forward. When the key is forward I can pull back the light switch to simply flash the High Beams but cannot push forward and engage them. The switch does engage just no high beams and the dash light for the high beams does not come on either. When I flash the highs I can hear the relay under the glove compartment click so I took off that relay and tested it and still no fix. I bought this Truck for my wife who is pregnant with our first child and I wanted something safe for her but I would really like her to have the ability to use her high beams where there is poor lighting. Can someone please help me. So far I have also checked all of the fuses under the hood and the relays. I cannot figure it out and now I feel bad that I could not fix her truck for her.

Thank You for reading this.
Rick
 
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Check the Dimmer relay which is under the hood compartment. If that is not bad then check the headlight switch.

Mike
 
Actually I did check all fuses and relays in the truck and I even replaced the switch last night but still nothing. I really wish I could fix this for my wife.
 
This is not a solution

This is a work around till you find a solution:
Get yourself a set of PIAA lights (PIAA becausing their wiring harness cuts the time in half for installation), and use that as an alternate solution till another one is discovered. When you finally do get it fix, you can use the extra lighting for those really dark areas.
 
So if you've checked all the relays, the switch, and the lights themselves, then you've eliminated everthing but the wiring. Follow the hi-beam wire(s) from the dimmer switch. I'd bet somebody spliced or cut the line to support some aftermarket component (alarm maybe).
 
Wiring check

You may also want to check the sockets themselves. My honda had a taillight malfunction, after many hours (read days) of trying to isolate the problem, one socket had rust that formed between the high power connection and the ground (so everytime I would brake, all lights would go off). If you pull the socket off of one headlight and try the hi-beams, then replace the socket and pull the other one and try the high beams, you may find that it is a socket/plug issue.
 
I did that last night and I cleaned them up and put the dialectric grease on them as well but no better. Thanks Though for efforts so far.
 
Re: Wiring check

boston_kevin said:
You may also want to check the sockets themselves. My honda had a taillight malfunction, after many hours (read days) of trying to isolate the problem, one socket had rust that formed between the high power connection and the ground (so everytime I would brake, all lights would go off). If you pull the socket off of one headlight and try the hi-beams, then replace the socket and pull the other one and try the high beams, you may find that it is a socket/plug issue.
Click to expand...

I don't think it is the bulb sockets since the hi-beams do come on when he uses the flasher switch. Just check the wiring. BTW, do you know if this truck was ever flooded? (sorry, had to ask).
 
I am not sure if it was always like that but now my Left Tailight does not work either. Tried New bulb and then tried for voltage and nothing is there. Does anyone have a wiring diagram for the 2000 4 runners? I really wish I knew if there was a reason or just coincidence for both the High Beams and Tailight problem maybe on same relay or something? Please advise I am looking like an idiot not being able to fix my wifes truck here. Help me restore her confidence in me as a MAN :)
 
Headlights and tail light have different fuses. Your gonna have to check all your wirings and find the short.

Mike
 
On your 2000 T4R, you will need to do some real trouble shooting.
Quit buying parts you are just waisting your money.

You will need a factory service manual to trace the circuit.
There are relays and fuses, but I presume the fuses were the first thing you checked.

What you have to do is look at the manual and understand the circuit.
Then trace it out to see where it is open. I would guess you will find
either 100watt lamps were put in the Hi-beams and blew some circuitry,
or someone has removed an alarm system that flashed the lights.

Cliff s
 
This is what I know so far.

I found next to the Fuse board in the truck dash the remains of what looks to be Alarm Wiring. I thought that it had an alarm previously by the red Led in the Dash but no other traces but that and a siren hidden in engine compartmant. They soldered into 2 wires on the board it looks like a plug of some sort that is a white plug and has one red and one green wire. They soldered or spliced into those but then cut off the wires they tee'd so it would seem irrelevant now unless that could burn something out. I did try and replace the Daytime Running light relay or module, the headlight multifuntion switch on column with no results so I returned them to dealership but now what? I really find it hard to believe that nobody has ever seen a similar problem. The original owner had it into a Toyota Dealership and they assured him him it was the Daytime Running Light relay and had him order it when I got it didnt change anything so returned it. Now if Toyota cannot figure it out I am scared. Where can I view a schematic of wiring on this 2000 4 runner. Also note mine has Daytime Running Lights. The AllData Information my buddy had showed 2000 did not have Daytime Running lights. Only 2001 and up. Last question. With the Key off or Key On Engine Off should I be able to turn on the head lights? I can only turn on the headlights with truck running is that normal?
 
You are going to have to chase the whole lighting harness back. I would start by cutting out the areas that still have leftover alarm wiring, and splice in new wire to meet the correct length. Just make sure that you use good connectors (read insulated) and use heat shrink wire wrap over that so that you don't end up with another short. (you can obtain all of these parts at any radio-shack.)

As far as the headlights only turning on when the engine is RUNNING - this sounds extremely abnormal. I have a 1999 T4R and can turn my lights on at any time. This means that there is very likely some more left over alarm wiring elsewhere in the lighting circuit that needs to be restored to original. You will be able to tell what is original and what is not by the connectors (or lack thereof) in the wiring. You will also need to do some investigating underneath your dashboard. Most alarm installers use that area as their base of operations - particularly in our 3rd Gen 4Runners since there is a good amount of room there. The fact that some of the faulty issues seem to be tied to the ignition switch tells me that there is a mess of something under the dashboard. Trace the wiring also from the ignition switch. This is going to be time consuming and frustrating. Just do yourself a favor, put some music on in the garage, take your time and DON'T get mad and yank on any wires out of anger. Unfortunately, as you are finding out, this is usually what happens when people who don't care about your car touch your car - Particularly aftermarket equipment installers. If all else fails, and you are unable to trace the problem, I would see about getting some replacement wiring harnesses from a local junkyard, or if you really want to pay a premium, order it from a stealer, but you'll definitely feel that in your wallet. Best of luck!!!
 
If I upgrade tp PIAA lights is it just a bulb replacement using my current lights? where is the cheapest place to buy these lights?
 
From your post it appears as though you are the vicitim of an alarm installer.
Some alarms flash the high beams and disable the motor, but they don't use
the factory system. There are jumpers added to defeat any factory system and
then they add their system. From your post it looks like the alarm was removed
by cutting the wires. to the alarm box. Now the problem is to find out what the
installer did.

The only way your are going to restore your lights is to get a factor service manual
and tracing the wiring. You will probably find that several wires have been cut and
maybe a couple added.

It is going to be a long frustrating job.

Cliff s
 
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