Blowing GAUGE Fuse when engaging L4 (1 Viewer)

[Bardiya]

I noticed that all my gauges were dead after pulling another car out of the sand in low range. (Part-time 4WD model)
After checking the interior fuse box I found that the gauge fuse was blown, Replacing the fuse fixed the gauges but Engaging L4 will cause it to blow again.

I don't know where to start looking to get this problem fixed.

 

[Ayune]

I’m not sure about your part-time 4WD system, but on US-spec models the “L-Position” detector switch sends Gauge power to a number of different places: CDL relay, Engine Control Module, and ABS/Rear Diff ECUs.

My approach would be to unplug each of those items one at a time to find which one causes the fault. Start with the CDL relay: unplug it and see if shifting into L still blows the fuse. If it doesn’t, shift back to H, plug the relay back in, unplug the Rear Diff ECU, and try again. The key is to change only one thing and re-test.

I suspect it’s either the Center or Rear Diff modules since they have mechanical relays in them.