Reverse Lights/Horn/Emergency Flasher

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Front Range 4x4

Front Range 4x4

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Oct 1, 2005
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158
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2,817
Location
Colorado
Can someone tell me what the connection is between the reverse lights, 4 way flasher and horn? I have an intermittent problem where these all seem to be interconnected.

Sometimes the horn sounds when the 4 way flasher is turned on, other times it just makes a buzzing sound and not the horn. It also appears as though the reverse lights may not work at the time when the horn does with the flasher switch. Maybe the reverse light is not connected since it's hard to see at some times.

All other lights, horn button work fine. Floating ground perhaps? Any help is appreciated!
 
They have horns??? I thought that was an option!!
I know the horns go screwy on toyota trucks, of my three the 87 pickup worked, the 84 pickup worked at exactly the right stearingwheel angle, and I've gotten my 85 cruisers to work 2 or 3 times while turning the rig. The wiring insulators may wear out and may touch on the horn and flashers depending on how the wheel is turned?!.

Sounds like some aftermarket wiring. Is there an alarm system or maybe an aftermarket stereo installed?
 
The PO installed an aftermarket stereo and trailer/tow wiring. My search turned up info indicating trailer wiring may be the problem. I would remove the trailer/tow wiring but for fear of screwing more of it up. :rolleyes:

I installed a different horn myself but don't think that's the cause though it easily could be.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=73563&highlight=horn+question
 
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He may have cut the reverse to hook in the trailer lights and if they weren't wired in tight they may have come loose and caused the intermitent fault on the reverse lights. I know when I did mine (trailer lights) I looked at the wire guides, and wired it "right" I ended up with some odd turn signal activity. I ended up just wiring directly into the wiring harnesses that hooked into the plugs in the back of the lights. (had to pull the rear lights off to do it but worked good)

As far as the other two, I still think there may be a wiring problem in the steering console.
Some pros back me up or tell me I'm wrong PLEASE
 
Darkrealms said:
He may have cut the reverse to hook in the trailer lights and if they weren't wired in tight they may have come loose and caused the intermitent fault on the reverse lights. I know when I did mine (trailer lights) I looked at the wire guides, and wired it "right" I ended up with some odd turn signal activity. I ended up just wiring directly into the wiring harnesses that hooked into the plugs in the back of the lights. (had to pull the rear lights off to do it but worked good)

As far as the other two, I still think there may be a wiring problem in the steering console.
Some pros back me up or tell me I'm wrong PLEASE
Click to expand...


I'm at a loss on this, I can't get any consistent error. As of right now there are no backup lights or flashers but the flasher switch does trigger the horn :confused:

Any pros want to backup Darkrealms? Please, any ideas?
 
Ya know you could just trace the circuits using a test light or multimeter: switch connections to fuse box to light connections. Do a binary search - start in the middle & go forward or backward depending on what you find. I'm assuming you have the FSM.
 
Thanks, I'll start a systematic search using the FSM and pay attention to the grounds. I was hoping for an "aha!" from someone who had the same experience and could point to a specific connection.

I like the idea of starting in the middle, that would not have occurred to me.

Thinking I may start with removing the wiring for the trailer or tow setup first. This cruiser has it at both ends since it was towed by a motorhome as well as towed smaller trailers itself.
 
First step is to toss the trailer wiring. Start from new there if you need it in the future.

On the funky lights/horn deal: I had something, while not the SAME problem, it was in the same general area. When I tilted the steering wheel the brights would go on or the lights would go out. If I tried to use the brights the lights went out. Not good...

I had the steering wheel off for another issue I had a deeper look at what was up. After I pulled the light/wiper combo switch off the column I found two wires on the light switch had come disconnected. Seems a couple solder joints had failed. Each time I tilted the column the light wires would hit random stuff inside and either work or not. Resoldered the wires and now the lights work properly.

I also found that the horn contact pin was mangled to the point that it didn't contact the bottom of the wheel. No contact equaled no horn. Swapped in another contact from a different combo switch and now the horn goes beep whenever I bump the buttons while turning...

In short, I'd guess your problems lie mostly in the column wiring.

Good luck!
Nick
 
Ditto BigBra - I had a wire come unsoldered on my '84, too.

The double-ended tow lights sound like a real nightmare, particularly since Toyota switches the ground & the Americans & Europeans switch the power. Maybe you could borrow another 60 to see what the wiring should look like. You should be able to work it out wiith the FSM wiring diagram.

One last suggestion (this from a second-generation engineer friend): fix what you know is broke 1st. Don't theorize how it can't affect what you're trying to fix - you'll figure that out later.
 
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Okay, pulled the front and rear trailer/tow wiring today. WTF! The cruiser probably weighs 10 pounds less now.

Must've had a total moron wire that thing. What a mess, it's amazing I had any lights working at all. It may have already eliminated the goofy problem but won't know for sure until I get a new flasher. At least the horn doesn't go off when I hit the 4 way flashers and have reverse lights now.
 
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