Tail fuse keeps blowing

[pie eater]

Hi all. The tail fuse on my 96 4.5 keeps blowing. I was the cause after I took out the instrument cluster to investigate the temperature gauge not working at all, I seem to have shorted something out. I have checked the relay and it is ok. I have removed all bulbs on the circuit and the fuse still blows. I now need to isolate where the short is. Does anyone have any ideas as to how I can isolate which circuit the fault is in? I know the tail fuse is responsible for side lights, tail lights, instrument lights, glove box light etc. but I am thinking that the fault lies with the instrument cluster wiring but don't have a diagram for it.

Any ideas would be most appreciated.
Dave

 

[pie eater]

Hi all. During investigating the temperature gauge not working at all on my 96 4.5 LC I have shorted something out and now the tail fuse blow as soon as I turn the side lights (parking lights) on. I have removed all of the bulbs from the circuit but it still blows. The relay is ok. How can I isolate the specific circuit the short is in? Are there any other relays? I can't imagine a wire has burnt out so am assuming it must be a relay / bulb socket etc that has shorted.

Thanks in advance
Dave

 

[RavenTai]

in what area of the truck were you working in when this happened? cluster?

Is this a euro spec RHD 96? does it have the headlight adjusters?

 

[dfmorse]

Dave;

Here's a handy troubleshooting guide that I made up - might help a little:

http://homepage.mac.com/dfmorse/FuseChart3.5.1/

...

 

[dfmorse]

Dave;

See:

http://homepage.mac.com/dfmorse/FuseChart3.5.1/

Keep in mind that any one of the bulbs on this circuit with a short [not blown] could cause this. It is not un-common on the FJ80 tail light for this to happen. The bulb will blow and immediately short thereafter. U could also have a pinched/corroded wire in the connectors in the lower left rear area of the cruiser (lots of wires near the tyre jack area).

...

 

[pie eater]

Hi, thanks for the replies. I removed both parking light bulbs, tail light bulbs, instrument cluster, rear number plate lights, glove box bulb and the fuse still blew.

It is a UK specification 1996 but doesn't have headlight adjusters. I definitely shorted something on the instrument cluster, probably to do with the cluster back lights.

Are the wiring diagrams available to download from anywhere?

My problem is how to isolate each circuit to identify which has the short?

Thanks for the replies so far.
Dave

 

[pie eater]

Just a thought but the stock Toyota radio cassette player has just (yesterday) been replaced with an Alpine CD player. The stock Toyota CD player was also removed. Could this install be causing the tail fuse to blow? Seems coincidental. Is there a feed to the radio (say to dim the display when the headlights are put on?) If this was not connected could it cause a problem. Could the current CD player be using the wrong 12V feed?

Sorry for all of the questions, but I'm a newbie to the LC. Love it though!!

Thanks in advance
Dave

 

[fernandol]

When I got my truck the tail lights did not work and I found the cause for it was a burned seccion of wire. Specifically in the seccion of the harness that passes by the USDS door. I do not know what was the cause of it but if you had a short circuit maybe you should look for a burnned wire.

hope this helps

 

[RavenTai]

in the US you can download all the manuals including wiring diagrams

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=128021

but supposedly it is not available internationally, not sure if there is a way arround that.

assuming that your RHD is wired similarly to a LHD I would pull the cluster and get to the J1 junction connector and the J4 junction connector is in the middle above the AC controls, all the lights that come on in the parking position pass throw these two connectors, all the wires will be green, disassemble the connector and start looking for the short with an ohm meter,

 

[robmir]

Just a thought but the stock Toyota radio cassette player has just (yesterday) been replaced with an Alpine CD player. The stock Toyota CD player was also removed. Could this install be causing the tail fuse to blow? Seems coincidental. Is there a feed to the radio (say to dim the display when the headlights are put on?) If this was not connected could it cause a problem. Could the current CD player be using the wrong 12V feed?

Sorry for all of the questions, but I'm a newbie to the LC. Love it though!!

Thanks in advance
Dave

Yes this installation could be the reason, because the same tail circuit goes also to the radio to dimm it´s display at night !!!!!

 

[pie eater]

Hi all. Just as a follow up for others' reference, I disconnected the wiring harness from the back of the CD player tonight, and bingo, my lighting system now works perfectly. I'll investigate the player wiring at the weekend and sort it.

Many thanks to all who took the time to read my thread and offer advice.

Dave

 

[GunZ80]

Hi all. Just as a follow up for others' reference, I disconnected the wiring harness from the back of the CD player tonight, and bingo, my lighting system now works perfectly. I'll investigate the player wiring at the weekend and sort it.

Many thanks to all who took the time to read my thread and offer advice.

Dave

Thanks mate,much appreciated. Just sorted my light problems with this post.
I disconnected my stereo bang lights working.i added a better negative behind the tail light.
All perfect now.thanks