Hey guys. having an issue with my 1988 Toyota pickup 4x4 22re. A while back, i think i short in the wiring on my tail lights, and it ended up melting tthe slot on my fusebox for the tail light fuse. so i bought an auxiliary fuse panel and ran my tail lights off that to a toggle switch. the only problem is that my dash lights don't work. even with those spliced into the new wiring for the tail lights they won't work. i checked the bulbs and only found one that was burnt out. any help would be appreciated!

 

And once my fuel gauge gets to about tank, it drops streight to E. is this related to my other problem

 

So you never found what caused your short??

Since the gauge Cluster lights are on the same circuit as the tail lights.

You don`t have your rheostat turned down all the way??

Maybe that is what shorted .

Then perhaps you might just have it hooked up wrong.

Fuel sending units die of old age unless your tank has a really big dent.

 

If it isn't the main harness that runs inside across the dash, I would find another 88 harness and replace it. The harness is easily replaced in these trucks. Fuel gauge on your truck is probably just worn out.

 

That or the coil of the sending unit in the tank has broken strands and once the wiper arm passes that point it looses it's path to ground causing the gauge to go to empty.
Factory Service Manual (FSM) test for the gauge is to unplug it at the tank, should be a yellow/red wire from the gauge. plug a 3.4w 12v bulb into that wire and take the other side to ground. If your gauge is good it will slowly go to half full and stay there.
Unlike the old domestic vehicles you can't ground these gauges out directly, it will damage them.