headlights work, but NO tail, licenceplate, dash, or corner lights

85Froder · 12-19-2006, 03:41 PM

like the title says, a bunch of lights don't work on my 85 4runner. i checked all the fuses and couldn't find a single blown one. please help me find the problem!!!

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**Tofer** · 12-19-2006, 04:04 PM

my dash lights stopped working when my tail lights fuse went... but since you said you checked the fuses, idk what to tell you.

4Crawler · 12-19-2006, 05:58 PM

Check the grounds on those lights. Headlights are grounded via the headlight combo switch but the rest of the lights have separate ground wires near each light. Tail light fuse is what controls them. Have you recently installed a radio or other electronics? If so, check that install out, that may be the cause of the problem, it was in my '85.

JACKED944RUNNER · 12-20-2006, 08:01 AM

Try pulling the instrment out, because on the earlier models if a dashlight bulb goes out the whole circut is comprimised, like x-mas tree lihgts.

85Froder · 12-20-2006, 03:30 PM

yeah, i put a radio in it about a month ago but used its own ground and the wires that were already ran there. the radio still works too....could it be in the headlight switch itself?

and just to be sure there are two panels of fuses, one in the cab on the left and one in the engine bay near the battery, right?

4Crawler · 12-20-2006, 03:59 PM

When I installed a new radio, using the wires that were already there, I had problems with the tail lights not working. Radio worked fine, but the tail lights did not. I think the problem was the backlight or switched power wires for the radio. I did end up running all new wiring for the radio and only made use of the 8 stock speaker wires.

Check the headlight switch, for sure.

12-19-2006, 04:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tofer Super Moderator Staff Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Tacoma WA. Posts: 6,901	my dash lights stopped working when my tail lights fuse went... but since you said you checked the fuses, idk what to tell you. __________________ 94 4runenr: all the good stuff....... 89 4runner: 3.0, Auto, 5.29 lockright f/r. 31x10.5 wildcountry ATs. 81 2wd pickup: 22R \| 5-sp \| long bed \|Civic SI seats \| LockRight \| Hella 500s pacific-crawlers.com For all your Trail-gear and HID lighting Solutions Needs check out yotaworks.com Online store coming soon :)

12-19-2006, 05:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
4Crawler Contributing Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SF Bay Area, CA Posts: 7,828	Check the grounds on those lights. Headlights are grounded via the headlight combo switch but the rest of the lights have separate ground wires near each light. Tail light fuse is what controls them. Have you recently installed a radio or other electronics? If so, check that install out, that may be the cause of the problem, it was in my '85. __________________ 1985 Toyota 4Runner SR-5, 22REC engine, dual t-cases, 4.88 gears, dual ARBs, 33x10.50 BFGs or 35x12.50 MTRs r.c.brown@ieee.org TruckEditor@tlca.org Project: 4Crawler 4Crawler OffRoad Gettin'Off 4WD Club

12-20-2006, 03:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
4Crawler Contributing Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SF Bay Area, CA Posts: 7,828	When I installed a new radio, using the wires that were already there, I had problems with the tail lights not working. Radio worked fine, but the tail lights did not. I think the problem was the backlight or switched power wires for the radio. I did end up running all new wiring for the radio and only made use of the 8 stock speaker wires. Check the headlight switch, for sure. __________________ 1985 Toyota 4Runner SR-5, 22REC engine, dual t-cases, 4.88 gears, dual ARBs, 33x10.50 BFGs or 35x12.50 MTRs r.c.brown@ieee.org TruckEditor@tlca.org Project: 4Crawler 4Crawler OffRoad Gettin'Off 4WD Club

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12-20-2006, 08:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
JACKED944RUNNER Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Yakima,Wa Posts: 5	Try pulling the instrment out, because on the earlier models if a dashlight bulb goes out the whole circut is comprimised, like x-mas tree lihgts.

12-20-2006, 03:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
85Froder Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: OREGON Posts: 22	yeah, i put a radio in it about a month ago but used its own ground and the wires that were already ran there. the radio still works too....could it be in the headlight switch itself? and just to be sure there are two panels of fuses, one in the cab on the left and one in the engine bay near the battery, right?