Elec Prob: Tail Lights and Instruments not work

Hello forum,

I own a '89 Toyota 4Runner V6.

Just last week my tail lights and instrument panel stopped lighting up. The brake and indicator lights work fine, and the dashboard works find as well, but neither lights up when I turn on the headlights. Any advice on wear to look?

I was attaching a trailor last week, so possibly shorted something, but all the fuses in the fuse box seem okay.

Thanks for your help!

Ben

Start with the fuses. Then check the switch.

I had a somewhat simmilar problem with 89 4Runner but with my horn, it worked for a while then quit on me at random. Every time I checked, the fuse was fine and the the actuall wire to the horn would have corosion on it and at that point it would break. Different spots in the wire each time! Go figure, after a few times of patching the wire I changed the fuse even though it was fine and it solved the problem, not too sure why it just did. So I guess if your fuses are fine, start tracing back the wires see what you find?! My instrument panel was on the fritz too so I removed and changed all the bulbs and scuffed up the contacts with some 400 sandpaper, now it all works and have not had a problem since.

I hope this is some help to you.

Jamie R.

Whenever diong electrical work, it is very critical to unplug your bettery terminal as always, I learn my lesson, I burn three electrical component when working with the battery connected.

Thank y'all! This weekend I'll try to go through your suggestions and see what I can find. The fuses indeed seem fine. Thanks.

You not only check the fuses for continuity, but also check to see if they are getting power.

Check for power on both ends of the fuse. You can do this by probing through the slots in the plastic. If there was ever one of those "power taps" used in that fuse location it pushes out the contacts and causes intermittent or complete disconnect.