Lights out...

[flipty]

I got pulled over last night for lack of tail lights. Got away with a warning because I literally and obviously wasn't aware of it, and was thankful that the officer told me.

I have a litany of internal lights out, but I never suspected that I didn't have ANY tail lights.

Rear blinkers, brake lights, and reverse lights DO work.

Lights that don't work:

Instrument cluster
HVAC
tail lights

I dug around in the forum (but maybe not well enough) to see if there was a common fuse but everything seemed to say that this was only a shared issue with 4th Gen 4R's.

Can someone please point me to the obvious answer, since it's just screaming that there probably is one?

 

[flipty]

So yeah, I'm an idiot. The "TAIL" 15A fuse is blown. Clearly that'll fix the tail light issue. Hopefully the dash is on the same circuit.

 

[Twan]

So yeah, I'm an idiot. The "TAIL" 15A fuse is blown. Clearly that'll fix the tail light issue. Hopefully the dash is on the same circuit.

It should be. I had a tail fuse pop on me the other day when I was messing with the climate control lights, and I lost all dash lights along with it. New fuse had them all in working order.

 

[RAD4Runner]

So yeah, I'm an idiot. The "TAIL" 15A fuse is blown. Clearly that'll fix the tail light issue. Hopefully the dash is on the same circuit.

Yes, they are on same circuit.
But no, You're NOT an idiot - LOL!

 

[flipty]

Man, that means my tail lights have been out for like a month and a half. That's no fun! Well, it's all fixed now, I got the fuse in and got the cabin dark enough to tell if the dash lights were on, and they are, as well as the tails. WOOT! Sometimes the fix HAS to be easy, right?

 

[nvestor88]

Where is the fuse located? My dash lights are half on, all the radio controls are out, and the ones on the doors, as well as most of the lights on the dash...

 

[TheDurk]

Where is the fuse located? My dash lights are half on, all the radio controls are out, and the ones on the doors, as well as most of the lights on the dash...

Engine Room Fuse Box...on mine it is in the left hand column in the middle.

 

[nvestor88]

Which fuse is for the lights on the dash?

 

[infantry503]

Which fuse is for the lights on the dash?

I would just pull all of them and check to see if one is out. If it's a newer 4runner I know that if my dimmer isn't plugged in my dash lights don't work

 

[thecole1098]

Which fuse is for the lights on the dash?

Do your HVAC and shift selector light up? How about your tail lights?

 

[nvestor88]

Tails are on, hvac, shifter select, radio, window/mirror switches all out...

 

[thecole1098]

Sound like your rheostat is not working correctly.

I literally just dealt with this same exact issue after I installed my trans temp gauge which had a light and I was stupid when I first hooked it up. Long story short, connecting both the positive and negative of a light to the ashtray light will create a loop and overload the rheostat, thus frying it.

As for your issue, try removing the connector on the back of the rheostat and jumping terminals 2 and 3 together. If you get lights, the dimmer switch is the issue.

 

[HiLife]

A trailer harness that grounds out will pop the tail light fuse.
I replaced the trailer harness and all is good.

 

[thecole1098]

That's not his issue. His tail lights work meaning the tail fuse is not blown.

 

[nvestor88]

Pulled all the fuses, they all look ok. Half of the dash (speedo/tach) is out. Half of the hvac, all of the radio controls and most of the switches on the driver and passenger door. Truck is equipped with factory hitch...is there a way to test dimmer relay?

 

[thecole1098]

Pulled all the fuses, they all look ok. Half of the dash (speedo/tach) is out. Half of the hvac, all of the radio controls and most of the switches on the driver and passenger door. Truck is equipped with factory hitch...is there a way to test dimmer relay?

Refer to my post (post #12) above... the dimmer switch connector pinout is attached and will show you the location of pins 2 and 3; the ones you will jump with a piece of wire. Just to clarify, you will be jumping the harness side, NOT the switch side. Then, turn on your lights and see if you have illumination inside again!