ejlarson

Hi all!

I have searched many many times and found a lot of information on this subject on here – but it doesn’t all seem to apply.

I think there are differences in years in play here.

I have a 1993 Toyota pickup. The low beams work fine. When I switch it to high the headlights go off but the inside high beam indicator does light up. If I pull back on the switch to flash the high beams DO come on. The headlights are WAAYY brighter than on low so I am assuming that the headlights both low and high have to be in working order.

Per the links in previous threads I took apart my light switch.

http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...l#Installation

My switch looks a lit different that the one linked. I assume year difference are again at play. Anyway, I took it apart, cleaned it spotless with contact cleaner and a soft brush. I then lubed it with di-electric grease. No change.

I tracked down the headlight relay, which contrary to another thread is on the passenger side fender well on my truck. The relay seems to be fine. Not 100% sure on that but I took it apart and it appears to work even when switched to hi.

Questions.

If my inside switch was bad, would the high beam indicator light still come on? Seems like it should not.

In my Haynes manual there are 2 relays. One labeled headlight relay, one labeled DIM switch. Both are inline to the headlights. Anyone know where the dimmer relay is located?

Anyone have any ideas what I should try?

Thanks!!

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

Look at the wiring diagram, the high beam indicator actually uses the current path through the (off) low beam filament to light it up:
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...l#HarnessTypes


Never seen a dimmer relay on the Toyotas and since FLASH mode works, you have both high and low beams. Get a Factory Service Manual and trace the circuit with a volt meter to find out where there is a difference in voltage between FLASH mode and HIGH beam mode.

msall006

Same problem on my 88 Runner. I took apart the steering colum to get to the contacts. There is a clear cover over the contacts and I could see when I moved the switch to high beams it was about a 1/16th of an inch from touching. I took clear cover off and bent it slightly and that solved it. Hope this helps! If you do this and you take the steering wheel off...don't let it hit you in the nose when your trying to get it off the splines........

ejlarson

Thanks guys. There are defintely differences in years then.

I have the wheel off and cleaned the contacts. Mine has no clear cover. Also it looks different than the pics on the 4 crawler site. My thinking is they updated their design, and in my opinion it is better and not a need to clean them. Mine looked brand new and my truck has 270,000.

Also, my Haynes manual shows a dimmer in line with the headlights. I will try to upload a pic if I can manage to scan it.

Got the pic - its big!

http://www.erikjlarson.com/scan0001.jpg

ejlarson

SO, I think I found the dimmer but am not sure. It is right above the fuse box in the cab of the truck. Part number is 90987-01003.

Can't confirm that it is the dimmer switch. Still working on it.

ejlarson

Me again!!!

So, I am now 100% sure that the steering wheel contacts have nothing to do with the headlights.

On my truck, the headlight and turn signals have combo switch. The wires go from that switch into the column and under the dash. I even took the contact switch apart and the lights stayed on, plus the flash function still worked.

Next I took a multi tester to the switch. All functions deliver appropriate voltage. I am stuck again. My previous find, that I thought might be the dimmer switch was not. It is the door buzzer.

Any idears?

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

The combo switch contacts are mostly all connections to ground, so would show next to 0 volts on a meter. Not sure if you are saying your headlights stayed on with the combo switch unplugged, but if so, that would point to having a short to ground some place between the switch and the headlights as it is a ground connection that turns the lights on.

msall006

http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...eadlight_Combo

The combo switch is what I was talking about....I had to slightly bend the individual contact for the high beams

ejlarson

Hi again!

Just to close this out it WAS the turn signal/headlight "combo" switch. The contacts looked clean but I filed them anyway, VOILA!! That did it!

Thanks to 4Crawler!

lovebledhate

i am having this same problem...except on mine...when i hit lowbeams they shut off...and i used to have hibeams....now i have one headlight on high...thats it...ive changed bulbs...everything....i need help....

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

Check the combo switch:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...eadlight_Combo

russtri

Would this work on my 1981 4x4 pickup as well. Just curious if it is the same switch and just clean the contacts. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

Try it and see:
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...eadlight_Combo

Likely has a similar type switch if not identical.

russtri

Thanks for your help. I will check it out this weekend. It is funny how someone mentioned that loosening the bolt rather than removing bolt from steering wheel will save your face. I thought I broke my nose when I removed mine.

Tybalt

I just had the same problem - headlights worked, but not the high beams. Turns out it was the switch, and the contacts just as you were talking about 4crawler. Thanks for your diagram and instructions, but I fell into some rookie mistakes that I thought I might just add in hopes to prevent someone else a couple hours of frustration like I had.

I have a 1998 tacoma TRD. I did not need to remove the steering wheel to get the switch off - just the plastic around the column. I tried to remove the whole combo switch (the turn signal/headlight switch being on the left and the wipers on the right.) this is NOT necessary!

Once I had the switch off I plowed right in and took the whole thing apart - springs and pieces went everywhere and it took me more than hour to figure out how to get them back together. Don't do this!

The only thing you need to take off (at least for my version of the switch) was the outer clear plastic part. right under that are three longer copper strips. Hold the base of the switch and push the handel to engage the high beams - you can see them move up to engage. Its these contacts that you want to clean.

This really is a very easy fix - shouldn't take you more than 20 or 30 minutes IF you do it right. I did probably everything wrong and it took me over 2 hours (which is why I'm writing this), but it absolutely DID work for getting my highbeams working again! Inspection - here I come.

Thanks again to 4 Crawler for his tutorial and fix to the problem!

banoobee17

I have 93 4runner i have no high beams only in flash mode but what contacts are you guys filing down i dont seem to find it

ejlarson

I wish I would have taken a picture when I was in there, but I am always in too big of a hurry.

The truck is gone now.

Here is what the contacts themselves look like. I would degrease them first, then sand/polish them with maybe 600 grit sand paper until they look clean like the pic, then apply some dielectric grease.





Edited to add - I am going from memory, and that is a BAD thing. My memory is pretty bad so....

Knocky

I am also one of those with no high beams when I push the light control to bright. When I switch to bright, the lights go out totally. The blue indicator for brights lights up though. I DO have brights when I pull back on the switch in 'flash' mode.
Mine is a 1988 4Runner. My solution was to just add a set of Hella lights on the bumper, and use those for brights.

dinobravo84

[QUOTE=Knocky;52059217]I am also one of those with no high beams when I push the light control to bright. When I switch to bright, the lights go out totally. The blue indicator for brights lights up though. I DO have brights when I pull back on the switch in 'flash' mode.
Mine is a 1988 4Runner. My solution was to just add a set of Hella lights on the bumper, and use those for brights.[/QUTE]

dinobravo84

I have a 94 Toyota pickup, has low beams but no high beams..Ive replaced the switch on the colum, and the headlight relay , to find that 2 ,10amp fuses marked right and left headlight are not getting any power to them..how or what to do now.. ned help thanks