Alright guys I need some help. My dash lights went out a few days ago, I mean the gauge cluster, and A/C controls. The dimmer switch stopped working a few weeks ago, but the lights still worked I just couldn't dim or brighten them, then they suddenly got dimmer and dimmer by the day and now they're out. I've checked the fuses and I don't see any blown, now I'm afraid I'm gonna have to tear the dash apart and check the dimmer switch. Does anyone have a clue as to what could be the problem?? I'm thinking maybe the dimmer switch went bad and is now causing these problems, but any opinions or suggestions would be of great help. thanks.

 

Anybody??

 

I would start with replacing the dimmer, sounds like it died off slowely

 

You should be able to jumper the dimmer switch without tearing into the dash. That's where i'd start. If you have a VOM, disconnect the power and check the dimmer for open circuit or high resistance. It sounds like you smoked the pot (no, not THAT kind of pot!). I'd also check voltages working from the fuse for the dash lights back towards the dash.

 

Thanks guys, i'll see what I find.

 

Alright guys figured out the problem and now it's fixed. The dimmer switch was burnt up, i guess a resistor went bad or something. Toyota wanted $109 for the switch so I opted to try all of the local salvage yards and I found one that actually had 3 4runners (none of the other yards even had Toyotas period). Found a 97 that had the entire botton half of the dash ripped out givinf me easy access to the switch, so I pulled it out and $5 bucks later my problem is fixed and now I can tell how fast I'm driving at night again.

 

but its a good excuse to speed "but officer, I cant see my speedometer, im on my way to the shop right now"

 

my dimmer went south on me about a year and a half ago. at the time i was desperate to get things working again so i just spliced the wires together. one of these days i'll snag a new one at the junkyard

 

too bad you fixed it, it lived up to your sig ;-)