amocat

Hi guys,
This is my first post, but have been coming here for quite some time for help on troubleshooting and a lift kit for my brothers 4runner. I have a strange problem that just happened with my 2000 tacoma. Here is what is happening........

Lights off: turn left signal on, front and back signals work, but brake lights flash as well (like I have the hazard switch on). Right flashers work as normal.

Lights on (running/parking and headlights): With the signal switch in nuetral, the left side front and rear flasher glows solid. When I turn on the left signal it clicks once(the relay) and doesnt click anymore nor do the outside lights flash. Right turn signal works as normal.

My hazard switch/lights work normal except the buzzer goes off when the lights come on (like when you leave your lights on).

What I have done:
1. Switched all bulbs from right to left, front and back
2. Replaced the flasher relay
3. checked all fuses
4. replaced turn signal switch on my steering column

At this point I am lost and don't know what else to do. Any ideas? Again, 2000 tacoma, 4cyl, 2.7, SR5, 5spd manual........

Elton

does it have any kind of trailer light harness ?

scuba

Yeah it sounds like it could be an issue with a poorly wired trailer harness.

amocat

It does have a harness connector....How would that cause the problem?

scuba

Bad wiring, corrosion of the hookups..

Id start by checking that and making sure it's wired right and check the grounds while your at it.

amocat

ok....looked at the wiring, all seems to be tight and in good condition. Not sure where the grounds are to check those.....I took the white plastic connectors apart (on the left rear) and the connector prongs inside looked sort of corroded. So, I took a wire brush and hit them with that. Put it all back together and with the lights off, left turn on, it flashes inside like a bulb is out. The front flashes fast and the rear does not flash at all, seeming like a bulb is out. With the lights on, the front no longer glows solid, but the rear does. With the signal on, the inside indicates a bulb is out (fast flash) and the front flashes fast as well. The rear stays lit. Now what.........

amocat

Also, the buzzer sound has stopped when the hazards are on

Ron Helmuth

given the year of the vehicle I am taking a guess the trailer light converter has simply failed. On 4Runners of that vintage it's a little black box tucked in the rear cargo area behind the plastic trim.

I'm presuming on a Tacoma it would be more exposed to weather. I'll take a guess it's underneath the truck but honestly not sure on a 'Coma.

Follow the wiring from the 4 pin connector to the converter box. You could bypass it temporarily if you like to verify/test the diagnosis but have another converter box ready to buy or order.

Amazon sells a Hopkins unit for around $35 with free shipping. Auto Zone or O'Reillys likely carry a similar unit. They can be plug and play into a tail light harness or you can simply splice in the unit whichever you find easier. Hopkins website or customer service seems easy to use and pretty well informed on such matters.

My Facebook link has pictures related for when I experienced similar issues. I highly recommend the visual LED 4 pin connector while you are at it. It's another $8 or so and makes it so much easier to tell what all is going on at the 4 pin wiring. A simple LED tester runs about $5 at Harbor Freight but if you leave it attached permanently some fool will simply snag it.

Stay in touch and let's be sure this has solved the issue. You'll know you wired up something incorrectly if you press the brakes and the dash lights up and/or the parking lights engage. I did....so keep track of which wire is which and the Hopkins units tend to follow the same color coding. Almost idiot proof....

raydouble

I would check the ground first....page 7 upside down triangle with BH in it.

http://www.ncttora.com/fsm/1996/SIL/...c/connecto.pdf