start engine, suddenly driver hi beam goes out and dome light is flickering

[rockwind1]

after having been installed back in '16 and working fine for a few years,, just out of the blue,,,,,,with 42k miles, i start up car,, it is just idling, and the high beam flickers for a bit and then just goes out,,,also, the push dome light near the crawl control console,, it is also flickers,,,,also,,, whenever i hit my ditch light switch, the dome light dims,, when i shut off ditch light switch,, the dome light flickers and then goes back to normal brightness.

i assume the hi beams are led's,, i actually am not entirely sure,,, they are called HID,,, all the choices are like H1, h3, h7,h13, and so on. i will find out exactly which ones,,, looks like they are more halogen type than led. oopss..

what the heck,,, any one have experience in this area?


these are expensive aftermarket custom led's from a place called aiden james customs llc. i do have a "website message" thing into them but am trying to figure it out on my own.

on a side note,, what is up with these business that have websites and the only way you can contact them is thru the stupid "message" thing on their website vs an actual email.. am i the only one or does it seem like no one at the business ever answers those?

 

[euser]

Did you just install the LEDs or have you had them for a while? The power draw difference between LED and incandescent lights can cause different issues in set ups not designed/modified for them.

 

[cb1111]

so just out of the blue,,, with 42k miles, i start up car,, it is just idling, and the high beam flickers for a bit and then just goes out,,,also, the push dome light near the crawl control console,, it is also flickers,,,,also,,, whenever i hit my ditch light switch, the dome light dims,, when i shut off ditch light switch,, the dome light flickers and then goes back to normal brightness.

what the heck,,, any one have experience in this area?


these are expensive aftermarket custom led's from a place called aiden james customs llc. i do have a "website message" thing into them but am trying to figure it out on my own.

on a side note,, what is up with these business that have websites and the only way you can contact them is thru the stupid "message" thing on their website vs an actual email.. am i the only one or does it seem like no one at the business ever answers those?

and that might be your problem...

When did you install what?

 

[kcp1158]

Did you replace the high beam headlights with LEDs? Most LEDs don't work well with Japanese vehicles due to the low current draw with the daylight driving lights. If this is something you did put the regular bulbs back in and see if you still experience the same issues.

 

[cb1111]

Did you replace the high beam headlights with LEDs? Most LEDs don't work well with Japanese vehicles due to the low current draw with the daylight driving lights. If this is something you did put the regular bulbs back in and see if you still experience the same issues.

At this point we don't have enough information to make any kind of suggestions. We know nothing about the car (year, trim etc.) and even less about the mods except that he installed something from Aiden James at some point.

We also know that AJ is living up to their reputation of not responding.

The OP needs to respond with:

Year/Trim
List of mods
When what mods were installed

After we have that information is when we can start to try to help him.

 

[Mudhorn]

Definitely sounds like a power draw issue. Not sure why the ditch light would draw power away from the interior light. Unless it is the switch light, which is a very low draw.
Have you replaced any of the other interior bulbs or any of them have the same issue?
I would check the fuse for the hi-beam.

 

[flyrv9]

Just a suggestion here - when you do mods, document everything and keep in a notebook for future ref and troubleshooting. If wiring is involved, make a diagram and color code and/or label your wires. You might also make a drawing and notes on how they are run. Note where you got your parts, etc. with contact info in case you need something in the future. Save any instructions too. Take pictures of the install and anything else that is important to what is being done. Even if you don't need this for future issues; it makes for a good selling point to the next owner. For electrical mods, take measurements with a meter: continuity checks and resistive measurements, followed by power on voltage checks and then system operational checks. Then you'll have a baseline to go by and a reference for future issues.

 

[rockwind1]

Did you just install the LEDs or have you had them for a while? The power draw difference between LED and incandescent lights can cause different issues in set ups not designed/modified for them.

good point,,, they have been installed for a long time,,, like 3 or 4 years,, 35k-40k miles ago. this is a new development.

 

[rockwind1]

Definitely sounds like a power draw issue. Not sure why the ditch light would draw power away from the interior light. Unless it is the switch light, which is a very low draw.
Have you replaced any of the other interior bulbs or any of them have the same issue?
I would check the fuse for the hi-beam.

wouldn't the fuse affect both sides hi beam?

have not had any other probs

 

[rockwind1]

At this point we don't have enough information to make any kind of suggestions. We know nothing about the car (year, trim etc.) and even less about the mods except that he installed something from Aiden James at some point.

We also know that AJ is living up to their reputation of not responding.

The OP needs to respond with:

Year/Trim
List of mods
When what mods were installed

After we have that information is when we can start to try to help him.

i actually have just recieved a email back,, on a sunday, so i responded back with more details and am awaiting reply. i would not expect a reply on a sunday so that seems promising.

sorry for not putting in more detail,, thought most of my mods were in my signature line. but it is a 2016 4runner trail KDSS, 3" icon lift w/ uca's, Icon rims, Falkens E rated, 10k smitty winch, heftyfab alum front bumper, heftyfab sliders, frontrunner roof rack, ARQ awning, LED lights everywhere, everything done back in 2016



it is these 2 kits from ajc
AJC HID Kit – Aiden James Customs

2010+ Toyota 4Runner Interior Lighting Kit – Aiden James Customs

no other elec mods other than a small light bar on front bumper, and ditch lights,, and some fancy back up lights

 

[rockwind1]

Did you replace the high beam headlights with LEDs? Most LEDs don't work well with Japanese vehicles due to the low current draw with the daylight driving lights. If this is something you did put the regular bulbs back in and see if you still experience the same issues.

i just assumed they were led's,,, but i guess not,,, some sort of HID bulb,,,my bad. i do not have originals

 

[rockwind1]

Just a suggestion here - when you do mods, document everything and keep in a notebook for future ref and troubleshooting. If wiring is involved, make a diagram and color code and/or label your wires. You might also make a drawing and notes on how they are run. Note where you got your parts, etc. with contact info in case you need something in the future. Save any instructions too. Take pictures of the install and anything else that is important to what is being done. Even if you don't need this for future issues; it makes for a good selling point to the next owner. For electrical mods, take measurements with a meter: continuity checks and resistive measurements, followed by power on voltage checks and then system operational checks. Then you'll have a baseline to go by and a reference for future issues.

excellent suggestion,,,but i bought this rig from the original owner with about 28k miles on it,, down in phoenix. he had already done all this work or had it done within the first 5k-10k miles,, around 2016-2017. i'm 55 and smarter than the average bear and i checked it out pretty good, he was a decent guy,, talented, and did a good job on anything he had done. so anyway, i don't have those original measurments with a multi meter when the work was done sadly.

 

[cb1111]

So it looks like some mods were done several years ago and then you made some mods.

What are the last two electrical mods you made and when?

 

[ElectroBoy]

Does this happen all the time, when truck is not running, or only when you start it and run it? Is it repeatable every time? Intermittent?

It sounds like an electrical connection that loosened up somewhere and makes an intermittent connection with the vibrations of the vehicle. You’re going to have to trace some wiring to track this down. Start with any circuits that have this problem. They might share a common wire to +12V or Gnd. Suspect any crimp, twisted wire nuts, wire taps, electrical taped junction, wire attached by a screw to chassis ground, or anything looking to be not OEM. Good luck.

 

[Mudhorn]

wouldn't the fuse affect both sides hi beam?

have not had any other probs

There is a fuse for each side. Should be 10amps. Engine compartment fuse box. Spot 16 and 17 on my ‘18 ORP

 

[rockwind1]

There is a fuse for each side. Should be 10amps. Engine compartment fuse box. Spot 16 and 17 on my ‘18 ORP

wow, i had no idea they each had their own fuse,, i see the low beams do as well. i just figured every car was like my 1972 ford maverick.

but sadly,, the fuses were good,, so back to investigation mode