No gauge lights?
 

I had a stereo shop install a new CD player in my '92 4runner. Later that night I went to turn the lights on, in which the headlights and the CD player face lit up but the gauge lights, nor the temperature control lights or the shifter lights came on?

I take it back to the shop, thinking they messed something up, but the guy that installed it couldn't find anything wrong.....great!

I've checked typical fuses, but haven't tested relays yet.

Any ideas, what else should I search for?
Thanks

Maybe your dimmer is turned all the way down, or at least related to the dimmer control.

has to be ether the dimmer switch or a fuse

Hmm,
I was going to say,
if it was just the temperature contorls I would say give the dash a good hard swing!
Cuase when they went to install a aftermarket headunit in my runner, on occasion when I go to turn on the lights the temperature control lights don't come on...
A good bang on the dash and I am all set...

Check the Dimmer and Fuses, If thats not it, try bangin the dash and see what happens, who knows, on the 2nd gens it might effect all the lights?

Ya I adjusted the dimmer switch, still didn't help. The guy at the shop also thought it could be related to the switch itself. Tommorrow I'll have a chance to look at it. Its just an odd coinsidence. I'll give it a good tap...we'll see what happens.

if all else fails move the ground wire on the deck to a better spot

Check to see if your tail lights are working. If they aren't, that may explain the lack of console lights. I believe that it is a U.S. requirement that, if the tail lights go out, the console lights, do, too, as a warning that you can't be seen from behind.

If the tail lights are not working, check your bulbs, first, then start looking for a bad connection, or a broken wire. It could also be a short to ground that has blown the fuse, and killed the system.

I;m with yotafun. I get the same problem as you once in a while. Basically adjusting the fan direction setting or the temperature makes it fix itself, and if not that then nothing beats (:D) smacking the side of the dash. Well, maybe taking it apart and fixing it, but damn! Thats a whole lot of work for a lazy guy like me!

Thanks for the advice guys, but now my headlights nor tailights work. They were fine the other day when everything else was messed up. I'm going to test the relays for both and see if there still good. I've checked just about every fuse. Then I'm going to test the dimmer switch and see if thats the problem for the instrument lights.

When the light switch is turned on I can't hear the faint buzzer anymore. I have to get this fixed by saturday, got a date!

Had the same problem with my old 2nd gen, check the positive dimmer wire off the head unit. If they didn't cover the wire, it can ground out and the dash lights and tail light to go out. Check the fuse for them, I can't remember what fuse it is.

When mine did that I lost all the dash lights and tail lights. Took it to the dealership and pointed me to the cd player. The cd player has a positive dimmer wire. Our Toyota's don't have a positive dimmer. Hope this helps.

trd90toyota, so the positive dimmer wire off the cd player has to be totally covered up, and not touching any metal?

Yes, that is what caused my lights to go out. It was grounding to the metal brackets that run from the floor to the top of that dash. The one where the radio get bolted in to. If you look, you might see that the positve dimmer wire might have arcing marks on it and possibly that the the supports have some marks as well. You should just be able to eletrical tape the end of the wire or a small wire nut (crimp style) on it to solve the problem. Plus replace the fuse.

PS: Hope your date goes well...

trd90, I found the positive dimmer wire (orange) correct, but its in good shape and covered up so I don't think thats the problem anymore. Although I found a green/white wire that comes from the truck but the installer didn't hook it up to anything, so I need to find out what its for.

take ti back and tell him to fix it. he tapped something he shouldnt or snipped a wire by accident. 98% of the stereo installers do a rushed crap got.

I'm new here and reviving this thread to get a little more info. I have a similar problem with a new-to-me 1990 pickup. The difference is I have lights at the stereo and heater controls but not at the combination meter. All other lights work and the idiot lights all come on when the key is turned to the on position.

I have checked the wires to the stereo. The orange is cut but is safely out of the way. One wire I question is the blue wire. The previous owner/installer connected it to the remote power wire (external amp?) on the stereo. Does anyone know what the blue wire is supposed to control? I have only the most general wiring diagrams in a Haynes manual and no instructions for the stereo ( Pioneer brand)

Thanks for any help you can offer.