red450r

89 Pickup, It started out as no dash lights, then i noticed that when i pressed the brake petal the heater backlight came on and both front turn signals lit up. i fixed some loose grounds and the butchered up radio wiring harness and replaced the front turning signal bulbs. That took care of the turning signals. At this point I still didnt have dash lights then i realized that when the headlights were on it was like the brake light switch was stuck so i unplugged it they were still on. I changed out both taillight assembly's no difference. I read on here that it could be the trailer wiring hookup. So tonight i pulled all the extra wires out that were spliced in. After that with the headlights on the drivers side was completely off and the passenger side brake light was still on. Press the brake pedal and the drivers side turning signal and brake light lit up and passenger side stayed on.

Tomorrow i plan on replacing the wiring harness from the cab to tail lights.


Im really lost on this, any help is greatly appreciated
Thanks, Ethan

Jkelley429

iTrader: (1)

i wish i could help you. im dealing with a similar problem. when my headlights come on i have no brake lights, and my dash lights dont work. ive tried pretty much everything but i cant figure anything out. been drivin like that for 2 months and havent been puilled over yet(knock on wood). stupid cops.

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

When did this light mess start??

I am betting somewhere the blubs are in the sockets wrong hard to do but I have seen it done.

The tail light and brake light wires got spliced to the wrong wires again hard to do because it all just plugs together .

So when the tail lights are lite the larger filament lights up and hence it is brighter than normal.

What happens when you press the brake pedal?? do the tail lights come on??

If it was a stuck brake light switch they would be on all the time.even with the key off

I can see no reason to change the harness to the back the problem is not there unless for some reason it has been cut and spliced. But why would you not connect the wires correct like color to like color.

Good luck

red450r

I just bought the truck. So who knows how long the problem has existed. I've checked all the bulbs. Even switched out the taillights. I've read a lot of threads about similar problems but nobody ever follows through with a solution. I know its not the brake light switch

TNRabbit

Electrical gremlins that have been inherited with a used vehicle are a B!TCH to correct. Get a good multimeter & FSM then start testing. There's no easy fix here, I'm afraid.

red450r

Ok the taillights are working. i unhooked the trailer wiring then double checked all connections and one tail light was not plugged in all the way. now the only problem is the no dash lights. everything in the cluster works but the backlights

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

Does your truck have the dimmer for the dash lights.

Is it turned all the way down or if it is open they will not work.

Could be possible all the blubs are burnt out one never knows.

red450r

The switch seems to be fine. It dims the heater control. I pulled the cluster and its no power to the lights, I called the guy I bought it from and he said that when he bought the truck they were working but on the way home they quit and haven't worked since.

angrybob

I would double check the radio wiring. Go online and look for toyota radio wiring Color codes for your model. I installed a new radio in my rig and still managed to cross one of the wires. Result was radio on = brake light circuit blown. Found my error and all was well.

Its tougher to check someone else's work but that's where I would start.

justin_4runner

i have a 91 4runner that when i bought it all the dash lights didnt work, i ended up running a wire off the grounding for them and then i had lights, so i think the ground has gone bad, but when u do this u cant adjust them just on or off with the dash switch. i would replace the dimmer switch or find where the grounds go and check them, but thats what problems i had.

red450r

yeah im thinking its a ground. this morning they worked then tonight they didnt

red450r

So, if you hit the cluster the lights come on. must be a broke wire or loose connection, looks like the dash has to come apart again.