Tail Light/Dash Short

[4RunnerNorway]

Its looks like I have a short in my tail lights or dash as the fuse keeps blowing.

All bulbs works. Problem occured after tailgate repair. Have reversed everything I did and still fuse keeps blowing.

If I install a new fuse, it blows 5sec after turning the lights on. Not at once, but 4-5 seconds.

Im kinda new at this, so any help is greatly appreciated? Where do I start?

I have checked tail lights, trailer connector... Looks fine to me but then again, I rly have no idea..

 

[RAD4Runner]

Thoroughly inspect all wires that have beem touched during last repair for worn out / torn insulation such that copper in wire touch metal body. Check if there are trailer wiring harness. Those are usually poorly-installed and have been proven problematic.
If your senses of touch, sight, feel do not sense anything out of the ordinary. Need a voltmeter.

 

[WPG93]

Hey there, I had it and messed with the wires in my tailgate and it stopped, not sure of I fixed anything though. After what Rad suggested I'd suggest thoroughly looking at the wires around where the tailgate hinges. It probably just takes 4-5 seconds to heat the fuse enough to blow.

Another thing you can do, is unplug the tailgate harness completely and see if it still burns out, if it doesn't then it ain't your tailgate, and if it does you've at least ruled out any secondary problem tricking you.

Let us know how it goes!

 

[4RunnerNorway]

Hey there, I had it and messed with the wires in my tailgate and it stopped, not sure of I fixed anything though. After what Rad suggested I'd suggest thoroughly looking at the wires around where the tailgate hinges. It probably just takes 4-5 seconds to heat the fuse enough to blow.

Another thing you can do, is unplug the tailgate harness completely and see if it still burns out, if it doesn't then it ain't your tailgate, and if it does you've at least ruled out any secondary problem tricking you.

Let us know how it goes!

Unplugged complete harness that goes to the tail. Still the fuse blows. Its probably something within the dash... Relay most likely

 

[WPG93]

Can you have the truck on for a while with the fuse in and the lights off without blowing the fuse?

If it is absolutely only when you turn the lights on I'd have a very very good look at the wires from the trailer connector as that's probably the main culprit. Trace them as far as you can and look for any damages or exposed wires. If you have a multimeter or can borrow one check for ohms between the frame and each pin in the trailer connector.

I'm sure others may have more experience and information on this but I like to rule out other things before I start thinking it's in my dash.

 

[4RunnerNorway]

Can you have the truck on for a while with the fuse in and the lights off without blowing the fuse?

If it is absolutely only when you turn the lights on I'd have a very very good look at the wires from the trailer connector as that's probably the main culprit. Trace them as far as you can and look for any damages or exposed wires. If you have a multimeter or can borrow one check for ohms between the frame and each pin in the trailer connector.

I'm sure others may have more experience and information on this but I like to rule out other things before I start thinking it's in my dash.

The fuse blow after turning the light control on the steering wheel to TAIL. Then you hear the light reminder buzzer and the fuse blow 4 sec after.

My circuit is different from american ones as there other electrical standards here in Norway. My dash/panel lights are connected to TAIL circuit, aswell as my parking lights

 

[jgue467]

...My dash/panel lights are connected to TAIL circuit, aswell as my parking lights

That is the standard item list on that circuit in USA too, perhaps worldwide since Runners are only made in one place, Japan.

Start using a volt meter to detect which wire has a draw when everything is Off. Luck.

 

[Dropzone]

seems like the harness would be very similar since all of these things were built in japan. Only differences would be left/right hand drive.