My headlights/taillights suddenly stopped working period. Turn signals still work. Fuses are good. Worked one evening, not the next morning. Do the switches on the column go bad? Anyone know where this system is grounded to usually? Any other ideas? Any insight would be truly appreciated.

 

Both your headlights and tailights stopped at the same time?

First - re-check the fuse, its the easiest troubleshooting. Remove it, clean it, clean the terminals on the block, re-install it, and pray. Just because the fuse isn't blown doesnt mean that it couldn't be making bad contact with the fuse panel.

If this fails, go back in the garage, grab a beer, and cry into it. Repeat at least 3 times. Then, grab a test light or a meter. Make sure you have power at the fuse. Then check to see if you have power at the headlight socket. If you have power at the fuse, but not at the headlight, repeat step one at least twice more.

Next, get yourself a good wiring diagram. There will be one in the toyota FSM, which you can download for your vehicle here: http://ncttora.com/fsm/index.html

Open the cover on your steering column. You will find a wiring harness with a flat green connector on the underside of the steering column. The diagram in the FSM will tell you which color wires belong to the headlight switch. Using your meter, check for voltage going both to, and coming from the switch. If you are sending voltage to the switch, but not getting any back, it is a bad switch.

If this is the case, repeat step one until you reach a stupor. The next afternoon when you wake up, get yourself a steering wheel puller, pull the wheel, and replace the switch. There is no way to replace that 5-position switch on your vehicle without pulling the steering wheel.

Good luck, ask questions for clarification as needed!