No power to gauge cluster, windows, A/C – how to troubleshoot? (1 Viewer)

[Polo]

Aloha,

My US-spec 1996 FZJ80 daily driver suddenly lost power to:

* all gauges (except gas gauge)
* instrument lights (except airbag, door ajar, and battery discharge warning light)
* A/C control panel
* power windows, sunroof, power mirrors

Door locks, interior lights, external lights, radio, lighter, rear heater blower all have power and appear to function normally. Truck seems to start and idle just fine.

The truck stalled and died on two occasions after descending a moderate grade to a stop. The gear shift lock appeared engaged upon one restart (could not shift out of park into gear), but released and allowed me to shift into gear after a bit of panic (I was at a major intersection).

No blown fuses. I cleaned/reconnected an obvious common ground inside the driver’s side kick panel. Are there other grounds to check? Where?

How do I troubleshoot this? Could one of the relays inside the driver’s side kick panel be faulty? If so which one?

Many many thanks,

Polo

 

[Rusty Marlin]

You need to get ahold of the wiring manual for your '96. It will tell you where the power is coming from on those circuits. I'm already curled up under the covers or I'd have gone out to the shop and looked it up for you.

 

[Polo]

OK, I'll see where I can find one. Thanks for the late response.

 

[jonheld]

OK, I'll see where I can find one. Thanks for the late response.

Free download in the resources section.
Check the 10 amp fuse marked GAUGE in the fusebox by the driver's left knee.

 

[Polo]

Thanks! ...But I've checked and there are no blown fuses.

There is 12V power to the fuse slots. So I assume the disconnect is deep under that dash between the fuse block and the gauges and A/C buttons.

I’m totally stumped on this, I'll try going through the wiring manual... not sure if I'll be able to understand it.

Polo

 

[Rwhat]

You have a lot of circuits on that 10 amp fuse.
Go drive it and see if you lost overdrive/ 4th gear.

 

[JohnVee]

Thanks! ...But I've checked and there are no blown fuses.

I admit I'm not very smart but I learned long ago to confirm a fuse's operation using a multimeter. Replace it with a new one if you don't have a multimeter. They can look good but not work, and it's not an uncommon occurrence. I'm plagued by that for some reason.

 

[Rwhat]

I admit I'm not very smart but I learned long ago to confirm a fuse's operation using a multimeter. Replace it with a new one if you don't have a multimeter. They can look good but not work, and it's not an uncommon occurrence. I'm plagued by that for some reason.

Im pretty sure the fuse has blown also.

 

[Polo]

OK, I'll definitely check the fuse with my multimeter and switch to a new one for good measure.

Overdrive switch does nothing and the overdrive light does not illuminate.

I'm looking over the electronic wiring diagrams this morning... trying to make sense of them .

Many MANY thanks for helpful suggestions guys!

Polo

 

[Polo]

Reporting back... Yup, 10A fuse labelled "Guage" blown and I just couldn't see it. Fuse replaced and gauges, dash lights, A/C, etc appear to function normally. Lesson learned.

That really had me worried, good thing I didn't start taking apart the dash.

Follow-up question: with that fuse blown the truck stalled/died on me (in heavy traffic!) which has never happened before. What circuit on that fuse would cause the vehicle to stall?

Polo

 

[Kernal]

What brand/country of manufacture fuse did you use?

Been a thread or two over the years of cheapo fuses (usually made in chy nna) that didn't pop when they should have. In once case it damaged (melted) a wire in the cowl harness behind the dash. The entire harness had to be replaced which required the entire dash to come apart.

FWIW.

 

[gummycarbs]

My guess would be an intermittent short, possibly in the wiring where it comes through the firewall on the passenger side. That's a complete stab in the dark, though.

 

[Rwhat]

As I have mentioned several times. I had the same thing happen in Death Valley. Pulled dash apart, ect. Hit Mojave and found when it blew I lost my overdrive. Luckily it pulled a code for the VSS sensor. It was loose causing a short somehow.