Headlight dimmer will not select the high beams, headlights go out.
Low beams work OK and the momentary high-beam flash function also works.
Hoping for an easy fix.
Any insight appreciated, Thanks!!

 

Easy fix. You need to clean the contacts in the steering column. Search around, there's a DIY around somewhere.

 

Here is how I fixed mine. You can also replace the horn ring from the dealer while in there for about $5 if I understand it right from the dealer.

Copied...
>>>>>>> https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f199...l#post51724567

 

Filing the contacts in the column switch fixed my problem!!

Many thanks to all!

 

Happy New Year!

Glad you got it fixed. However, filing is too harsh; you should have just used very fine sandpaper.

Now that you've got it fixed, time to do one more thing to keep it working longer and to get brighter lights, by getting an H4 conversion harness.

Why?

ON Stock Circuit:

• Wires are thin (AWG 18/20?) and very looong.
• Ground circuit goes from bulbs, to cabin, to dash to dimmer switch, back to engine compartment to ground inside passenger-side fender (exactly a convoluted path as 4Crawler describes it), causing a lot of resistance, a lot of voltage drops and reducing voltage that ends up across the bulbs.
• Dimmer (combo) stalk switch contacts carry high current (10 Amps on 60-watt high beam, 17 Amps on 100-watt high beams). This will shorten contact life.

 

Yes, I probably will install one of the battery direct, relay actuated harnesses in the '87 Runner soon.
I already installed one in my '95 Runner and went to slightly higher wattage bulbs. I like the results.

The file I used was a very fine Swiss jewellers file, and I took it easy. Should be fine. I have filed contacts before, and even made new ones by punching them out of an old silver dime and then sweating the new contact point onto its base.

 

WOW! You're quite handy. A fine quality of a good classic Yota owner.

Yeah, that conversion is good.

I cleanly rewired mine instead of just making the harness. In hindsight, I wish I just did the latter. An add-on harness would make it simpler for me to make a DRL circuit using the less-frequently used high-beam filaments.

Best regards,
RAD