tail light fuse keeps blowing

[janthony]

Hi,

Having a problem with my 07 4runner 4x4. The tail light fuse keeps blowing, after the lights are on for about a half hour.
Anyone else had this problem? It's only got 37k on it, Sr5 V6. Any help is much appreciated.

John

 

[audiqtr]

There is gotta be a short somewhere or a grounding problem.. Do you have ant aftermarket equipment?

It sucks because your car is out of warranty, but It doesn't hurt to ask them to have a look since it is an 07. Worst they can say is no.. Good Luck...Free bump to you...

 

[janthony]

Nothing aftermarket, bone stock. I put another fuse in this morning before driving to work, had lights on for about 45 min. Didn't blow. Gonna leave them on again when i go home. This is fuse #3 in as many days. The second fuse i put in was a spare from the engine compartment fuse box. Maybe it was a fluke? If not I'm taking it in.

 

[janthony]

Well it happened again! It's been a couple of months since the last fuse blew, and I haven't driven or done anything different since the last one blew. If it's a short anyone have any ideas on where to start looking?

 

[boostedprozac]

I don't know the answer to your problem...but I did have that on my civic many, many years ago. I did have an aftermarket stereo set. But one wire was slightly left open and after driving for so long...it would ground itself out to something in the dash. This blew the fuse for my rear lights and guage cluster. Find the ground...find the problem. Find the harness plug between 2 harness and check the resistance between the wires. You'll find an short somewhere.

 

[drmorbius]

Hi,

Having a problem with my 07 4runner 4x4. The tail light fuse keeps blowing, after the lights are on for about a half hour.
Anyone else had this problem? It's only got 37k on it, Sr5 V6. Any help is much appreciated.

John

Do you have any trailer wiring?

 

[Kmvreter]

Can't help with the specifics on the vehicle but this diagram may help. It's from '04 but it's still the same generation of vehicle so only minor changes.

 

[janthony]

As far as trailer wiring, just the stock 7 pin. Thanks Kmvreter for the diagram, guess I'll get out the multimeter and start moving stuff around and see if I can find a short. I heard somewhere to replace the taillight's cause sometime they will draw too many amps when they get old? Don't know but it's better than tearing into wire harnesses. Thanks for the responses.

John

 

[janthony]

And again. This is how it happened this time: Drove from Tucson to Phoenix last night with lights on the whole time, about 1.5 hrs. No problems.Left the light switch on and shut the car off and parked the 4runner for about an hour. Came out started the car and within about 2 seconds the fuse blew (as soon as the lights came on). Replaced the fuse and drove home w/ no probs. I really have a feeling that something in the system is drawing too many amps. Could it be the relay in the engine compartment, or the taillights, or? At this point I don't thinks it's wiring.

Thanks
John

 

[janthony]

......and to the dealer in the morning

 

[janthony]

so the dealer said they couldn't find anything wrong using there dianostic equipment. kept asking about towing a trailer, I told my wife to walk them to the back and show them that there isn't even a tow hitch on the thing. they said bring it back if it happens again. they didn't replace a thing, just the fuse. anyone have any ideas?