What started out as a "simple bulb swap" has turned into an avalanche of parts replacement, detail cleaning, and trouble shooting keeping my daily driver a driveway queen...
I have a 1992 FJ80 with no modifications aside from an ARB bumper (lights not connected) and a dead Pioneer head unit. Headlights, tail lights, and turn signals worked from the day I picked it up in June until Thursday of last week when I opened up the dash to upgrade some dead bulbs in the gauge cluster, specifically the "D" light and the cluster backlighting. Right now the dash is apart and I am testing the interior bulb replacements.
So here's the issue:
1. When the turn signals were replaced, LED 194's were thrown in there without thought to the need of an LED flasher. When they didn't work, it was thought polarity was the issue and therefore the polarity of the LEDs was adjusted only to find they didn't work and ultimately the realization that "Oh, they need the LED friendly flasher to work" struck.
2. Not having an LED friendly flasher like the Novita EP36, two 194's were placed back into the turn signal ports on the gauge cluster. With no change in status, it was assumed that perhaps I used expired 194 bulbs. The two bulbs were pulled and two others were put in. Again, nothing.
3. Out of curiosity, the turn signal switch was function tested fearing that perhaps it was struck to hard in the process of removing the dash... The lights obviously came on with a flick of the switch and they got bright with a pull of the bright/dimmer switch. It seems that the Turn/Light Control/Dimmer controls are good.
4. Picked up a Novita EP36 from O'Reilly's and pulled the original Toyota relay. After moving the U-shaped adapter, the Novita EP36 was placed back into the relay seat and connected to the board. Replaced the two incandescent bulbs with Sylvania 194 LED's and tested. All lights except the turn signals work.
5. After reading more Mud posts, I decided I should take the flasher switch and connect it to the harness and see if the flashers work. Nothing.
6. At this point, I reflected on the advice of grey haired sages of old and decided to check the fuses. Knowing I had replaced the fuses that came in the 80 within a weeks time of buying it, I wondered if that could be the issue. The 7.5amp "TURN" fuse in the dash was intact. The 15amp "Hazard/Horn" is intact. The Horn/Hazard relay works.
I am at a loss here. Vehicle electrical is honestly not my strong suite.
1. Within the next 24 hours I plan to check for a ground on the driver's kick panel.
2. Re-check the fuse under the hood.
I've searched the forums and have not found anyone with this exact issue or similar circumstance in an 80 Series. Has anyone had this issue or have any experience with these things? I need all the help I can get.
I have a 1992 FJ80 with no modifications aside from an ARB bumper (lights not connected) and a dead Pioneer head unit. Headlights, tail lights, and turn signals worked from the day I picked it up in June until Thursday of last week when I opened up the dash to upgrade some dead bulbs in the gauge cluster, specifically the "D" light and the cluster backlighting. Right now the dash is apart and I am testing the interior bulb replacements.
So here's the issue:
1. When the turn signals were replaced, LED 194's were thrown in there without thought to the need of an LED flasher. When they didn't work, it was thought polarity was the issue and therefore the polarity of the LEDs was adjusted only to find they didn't work and ultimately the realization that "Oh, they need the LED friendly flasher to work" struck.
2. Not having an LED friendly flasher like the Novita EP36, two 194's were placed back into the turn signal ports on the gauge cluster. With no change in status, it was assumed that perhaps I used expired 194 bulbs. The two bulbs were pulled and two others were put in. Again, nothing.
3. Out of curiosity, the turn signal switch was function tested fearing that perhaps it was struck to hard in the process of removing the dash... The lights obviously came on with a flick of the switch and they got bright with a pull of the bright/dimmer switch. It seems that the Turn/Light Control/Dimmer controls are good.
4. Picked up a Novita EP36 from O'Reilly's and pulled the original Toyota relay. After moving the U-shaped adapter, the Novita EP36 was placed back into the relay seat and connected to the board. Replaced the two incandescent bulbs with Sylvania 194 LED's and tested. All lights except the turn signals work.
5. After reading more Mud posts, I decided I should take the flasher switch and connect it to the harness and see if the flashers work. Nothing.
6. At this point, I reflected on the advice of grey haired sages of old and decided to check the fuses. Knowing I had replaced the fuses that came in the 80 within a weeks time of buying it, I wondered if that could be the issue. The 7.5amp "TURN" fuse in the dash was intact. The 15amp "Hazard/Horn" is intact. The Horn/Hazard relay works.
I am at a loss here. Vehicle electrical is honestly not my strong suite.
1. Within the next 24 hours I plan to check for a ground on the driver's kick panel.
2. Re-check the fuse under the hood.
I've searched the forums and have not found anyone with this exact issue or similar circumstance in an 80 Series. Has anyone had this issue or have any experience with these things? I need all the help I can get.
as it was before my coffee!
