My 4Runner has been sitting for a while. I am trying to get her back on the road. After charging the battery for a full 24 hours I noticed that the lights up front will not turn on. The rear lights come on and rear blinkers, but nothing up front. I checked all the fuses and fuses are good. I am going to check the relay next. any other suggestions?

 

Break out the meter .

Did the lights all work when it was parked ??

Just How were the fuses Checked?? Fuses loose in sockets don`t conduct current.

Rodents chew the wiring??

The bulbs were all burnt out.

light Sockets corroded from sitting ??

 

Yep everything was working when it got parked. The switch turns on all the rear lights and I checked tonight the front lights that are on the corners. Just no head lights or blinkers in front.

 

ok the weather sucked so i am just getting back to this. well i was jacking around with the relay and now i get no lights at all. i was getting the tone when the lights are on with no key. now i get no lights front and back. i get right side blinkers haven't checked breaks. its like a blew a fuse but al fuses are good that i can tell. i am in the process off taking off the head lights to see if bulbs are burned. is there an unseen fuse or relay I can check?

 

I know it sounds stupid but.. Try examining the hi/lo switch for the headlights. I filed the contacts (steering column) like it was reccomended in another post. Lights work fine now. They used to randomly just shut off.

 

Today I pulled the headlights out. They don't look burnt. So the last thing I did this evening was pull the steering wheel to check the switch. I'll do a search for repairing or cleaning it. If anyone can point me to it that would be swell

 

Can any one tell me what the circled component is. Also should I be reading 12v at the 1 and 5 posts? because I am not.

 

That is pin 5 of the headlight relay.

It should have the White and red/blue strip wire when your looking at the bottom of the socket..

Pin #5 to ground should give battery voltage. as should pin #1

The relay will only close when the head light switch is on or the dimmer is in the flash position which I am sure you know.

As this completes the circuit.

 

Ok I put the meter on it again and I do get 12 volts at number 1 on the relay terminal. I took apart the high beam switch and cleaned the contacts and still got nothing. No highs or lights. I get no light on buzzer. If the rotary light switch is fried would this cause there to be no sound?

 

I was looking at the trouble shooting section of the online service manual. It had me check for continuity on the pins. I was able to get continuity on the high beam and low beam . But none one the rotary switch .the thing is on my 95 it looks like the rotary goes to a completely separate 3 pin plug. I tried to check for continuity on all pins with no luck

 

Scratch this. After unwrapping the wires. That lead is for cruise control. Metering is showing a dead switch.

 

Does this have the Auto Light Shut off ??

Day Time running lights??

This could impact the way the lights work

In a big Way!!!

 

How would I know?

 

No I do not have daylight running lights.

 

Ok I baught a switch from a guy on ebay parting out a 4 runner. I am back where I started. I get side marker lights and rear lights .still no he'd lights. I'm starting to wonder if I have a break in the wiring. I ordered new bulbs for both head lights just in case. I was wondering, if I turn on the lights should I be able to put a volt meter on the head light socket and get 12 v?

 

Yes !

You have double checked the fuses for the head lights ??

The head light relay is pulling in sending battery voltage to the right and left head light fuses ??

Good ground behind the left kick panel??

 

Wyoming9 thanks for working with me. Put the meter on the right headlight socket. I get 12 volts from all 3 posts???? Left I get 12 volts on 1 post but still no light. I get 12 volts from the left side of the fuse holder in left and right. Starting to wonder if in have a chewed wire I can't see.

 

It is quite possible things can be corroded plugs sockets any of the connections.

This corrosion can be impossible to see with your eyes but your meter probe will get a good connection.

Then when things are plugged in they don`t work enough to drive anyone to frustration .

Plugs or fuses can be loose not making good connections.

Check the fuses when installed or build a tester with spade connectors and inline fuse holder to help trouble shoot the fuseblock.

You have checked the ground behind the trim on the left door post. Ihave seen water get in there and make a mess.

 

Wyoming9. Tonight I put the meter back in the plugs and now it's metering normal. I need move the harness around before checking again. But I have narrowed the problem to grounding. With the lights on I put the meter on the plug and get no voltage. I put the ground lead from the meter on the battery ground and I get 12v. So I rigged a ground wire from the ground pin the ground post on the battery and I get a light. The grounding issue is affecting both lights. But I am convinced it's a grounding issue. Where is the ground on the door? I need to figure out where the grounding points for the headlighta.

 

Also to get past this issue is it possible to cut the ground wire at each head light plug and then run a direct ground from them to the ground on the side wall? Any downside to this? This is my weekend rig not my dd. I just need to have the thing inspected. I mean I need lights, I know. Stupid not to have them. But I'm to the point of pulling my hair out.