please verify operation of light in rear cargo

[fireteacher]

if you have a 99, please go out and open your rear hatch to check and see if the REAR CARGO light comes on and goes off when it is in the DOOR mode. mine isnt working and i want to make sure this is supposed to be working like this as i remeber it doing before!!!

thanks in advance

 

[motorheadwannab]

I have a 96 and when on door mode the light will come on after a few seconds, i open the door and after like 10 seconds or 5 seconds the light comes on...pretty random if you ask me I dont know whats up.

 

[fireteacher]

and you are strictly ONLY opening the rear hatch?

 

[motorheadwannab]

Yes

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Mine comes on when it's open and goes off right away when closed in DOOR mode.

 

[fireteacher]

reason i asked is mine stopped working in door mode but turns on when i put it in the ON poss.

anyone have suggestions how to trouble shoot?

 

[neliconcept]

seems to me that the sensor for the door mode when door is opened is blown.. has to be a little push switch where the door closes to make the light go off.

 

[murph73]

I'm having the same problem but I cannot find the rear hatch sensor. Note - the "open door" dash light also does not work - leading me to believe that it is the door sensor. Does anyone know where the sensor is located?

 

[p nut]

I've got no solution, but I did notice that mine was doing the same--no light when the hatch is open (in DOOR mode), but I can turn it on by switching it to "ON." Weird that so many of us are having the same problem.

 

[4RunnerDNA]

i usually have this problem in the winter when the temps fall really low. the sensor is located in the actual locking mechansim. spray some penetrant in there to remove any crap, and then hit it with some silicone spray.open and close a few times and give it a little hit, and see if it loosens up.

 

[gapboi210]

By the way, the cargo light sucks! Mine works fine but it is so dim. It seems that the light is a yellowish brown color and I have the oak colored interior. It's hard to find small items in the back with that light. Any ideas for some sort of improvement?

 

[motorheadwannab]

While on my trip this weekend i needed to find something in the back, i needed that light and it would not go on even in the "on" position! i wiggled the switch back and forth and it came on!? how annoying looks like i'll be pulling the light down and trying to see whats up...just my observation

 

[murph73]

WD40 did the trick!! Thanks to 4RunnerDNA. Sprayed some in the locking mechanism and the light and dash both recognize the door is open and work properly. Unfortunately, I was hoping this would fix my alarm/pwr door lock problem. But apparently not. On to the next idea.

 

[lee]

that wd40 wont last longer than a few months

youre gonna need grease.

 

[4RunnerDNA]

that wd40 wont last longer than a few months

youre gonna need grease.

agreed, the wd40,or any penetrant will help release anything if jammed, but hit that with some good grease. i always try to use ones that might help in -15 to -30 degrees C hahaha.

glad you fixed it though, now just maintain it.