Radio works but it wont light up or illuminate
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KHoffRunner
Member
I have the same problem and I've been told that you cant get to the lights in the radio to fix it. Good reason to get a nice touch screen
Nervo19
Member
I took my radio apart somewhat and I was unable to find the bulbs.
I bought a used unit off eBay because I wanted to keep my 4Runner original. It lit up. Two months later the CD stopped working.
I finally put a new Kenwood single DIN in a couple of months ago. It required that I take out the factory amp. I got it from Crutchfield. It took about 20 minutes to install and it sounds great. I didn't change the speakers and they sound much better with the new unit. Plus I can easily play my iPhone tunes.
Here's a good Youtube on how to get in the dash:
How To Install A Head Unit And Speakers Step By Step - YouTube
I bought a used unit off eBay because I wanted to keep my 4Runner original. It lit up. Two months later the CD stopped working.
I finally put a new Kenwood single DIN in a couple of months ago. It required that I take out the factory amp. I got it from Crutchfield. It took about 20 minutes to install and it sounds great. I didn't change the speakers and they sound much better with the new unit. Plus I can easily play my iPhone tunes.
Here's a good Youtube on how to get in the dash:
How To Install A Head Unit And Speakers Step By Step - YouTube
Johnate0
New member
I have the same problem with mine. A few months back the illumination in the radio would start flickering while I was driving - annoying and distracting as hell. I'd tap the face a few times and the light would stay on but then flicker again later. Now, it doesn't illuminate at all anymore. Honestly I'd rather have it do that then flicker! So it seems no one has found a quick easy way to fix this besides replacing the whole radio.
The radio/cd/cassette still works great other than that, so if you're like me and don't really care about the small inconvenience of not being able to see the radio info at night, learn to change tracks, stations, mode etc... by feel so you don't have to take your eyes off the road.
The radio/cd/cassette still works great other than that, so if you're like me and don't really care about the small inconvenience of not being able to see the radio info at night, learn to change tracks, stations, mode etc... by feel so you don't have to take your eyes off the road.
oldmechanic
New member
I just found this post.
Wow it seems that there are a lot of them out there including mine having the same problem.
My unit is in a 2000 SR5.
I took mine off to replace it with a unit bought at EBay. "Bench tested". The lights on the new unit worked, but the CD did not work. I got a full refund including shipping charges.
I wonder if it the same unit from Nervo19!!
I disassembled my old one completely and could not see anything obvious. There are no replaceable bulbs.
My guess is a bad connection since I can get it to work some times by tapping the dash. I even used zip tie to secure the factory connector to the unit. Maybe a bad diode or a capacitor. But which one?
If anybody can find a repair for these, he/she will make a lot people happy and thankful.
Wow it seems that there are a lot of them out there including mine having the same problem.
My unit is in a 2000 SR5.
I took mine off to replace it with a unit bought at EBay. "Bench tested". The lights on the new unit worked, but the CD did not work. I got a full refund including shipping charges.
I wonder if it the same unit from Nervo19!!
I disassembled my old one completely and could not see anything obvious. There are no replaceable bulbs.
My guess is a bad connection since I can get it to work some times by tapping the dash. I even used zip tie to secure the factory connector to the unit. Maybe a bad diode or a capacitor. But which one?
If anybody can find a repair for these, he/she will make a lot people happy and thankful.
Jon T4R
New member
So, when I got my 3rd gen a few months ago, the stock radio worked but its lights didnt. I bought a replacement from a guy on this forum for $25 and put it in...easy. Life was good... For about a month or so. Then the lights started flickering and are completely out now, though the radio/cd still plays. Maye time to upgrade??
Megahoser
New member
I am resurrecting this tread in hopes someone has learned something further... I am having the same issue in my '00 4Runner Limited.
I am sure the culprit is not a bad bulb, as I replaced all of them. Further, the lights for the entire radio flicker/dim all at once pointing more
toward a loose wire or a worn connection on the rear harness plug.
Does anyone know definitively which of those wires controls the radio illumination?
I am sure the culprit is not a bad bulb, as I replaced all of them. Further, the lights for the entire radio flicker/dim all at once pointing more
toward a loose wire or a worn connection on the rear harness plug.
Does anyone know definitively which of those wires controls the radio illumination?
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Nervo19
Member
Seriously. Thirteen people above and there have been other threads about the same issue. All say replace it with aftermarket. It can't be fixed unless you are an electrical engineer. I linked the YouTube above on how to replace it. Twenty minutes if you have your tools organized.
My son has a 2000 Tacoma with the same radio and it still lights up. It's fun to have the cassette player mainly as a curiosity. He has to play his iPhone through one of those cassette adaptors. It sounds terrible.
Megahoser
New member
Thanks for your input...but seriously, I disagree. My unit works fine...I am not interested in replacing it. I am looking for information that some here may have the expertise to provide. I am quite capable of making the needed repairs if I have the proper information on the wires in the harness...I figure someone here may have done that work. I am a tinkerer and I like to fix things not just replace something that for all intents works fine.
I'd love it if someone has properly mapped the harness wires and can provide that information!
4runnerDebbie
New member
1995 2nd gen as well
My original radio had the same issue and my son bought me one with his first job earnings. That one flickers but does not light up 90% of the time but works fine.
My original radio had the same issue and my son bought me one with his first job earnings. That one flickers but does not light up 90% of the time but works fine.
VolcanoT4R
New member
[MENTION=53465]Nervo19[/MENTION]
[MENTION=5230]4runnerDebbie[/MENTION]
[MENTION=130857]Megahoser[/MENTION]
I had the same problem (radio worked well, but no lights came on) with my T4R when I bought it about 2 years ago. I ended up replacing mine, but determined the wiring harness in the back of the radio (from the amplifier) wasn't making a clean connection. When I jiggled the connector, the lights would flicker on/off.
Hoping the attached pictures (wiring diagrams from 2002 T4R) come through and help out. If not, let me know if there's something else I can do to help.
[MENTION=5230]4runnerDebbie[/MENTION]
[MENTION=130857]Megahoser[/MENTION]
I had the same problem (radio worked well, but no lights came on) with my T4R when I bought it about 2 years ago. I ended up replacing mine, but determined the wiring harness in the back of the radio (from the amplifier) wasn't making a clean connection. When I jiggled the connector, the lights would flicker on/off.
Hoping the attached pictures (wiring diagrams from 2002 T4R) come through and help out. If not, let me know if there's something else I can do to help.
Attachments
oldlures
New member
2013 limited. Mine just started doing the same thing. Acts like it's a loose connection. But, the flickering of the lights is just too much in sequence to be a loose wire. When lights do go out, the on/off power knob does zilch as do other radio controls but Steering wheel radio control will turn it on. It naturally, not off. Very sporadic and intermittent. Simply cannot figure it out
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