Dash lights won't come on? 96 Taco

I'm not much of an electrical systems guy, so I figured I'd post this. The dash lights in my 96 Taco are no longer coming on. They did when I first got the truck running- I remember driving around the night I brought the truck to my house from where it had been at my friend's house, and being able to see the dash. But a few nights ago, I was driving around, (I don't drive much at night) and when I went to look at my speedometer, nothing was lit up. My gear selector still lights up, but the rest of the dash panel does not. I checked the fuse under the hood, (I would assume it is the one that is labeled "PANEL" on the cover) and it looks fine. All of my other lights work fine. I've heard of this happening and the tail lights not coming on, but mine do.
Trying to get this taken care of, because I'm ready to do inspection within the next couple days, and I'm sure that it would fail because of this.
Anyone else dealt with this before?

 

ill ask the obvious one, is the dimmer knob turned down?

 

I checked that. I have been fooled by that before, though.

 

It is not uncommon to have either a bad connection, or simply have all of the bulbs burned out. I would suggest removing the cluster and checking the bulbs. It takes less than 15 minutes to pull those clusters.

 

Well, I found a spare 10 fuse and threw it in, and they started working- but now my turn signals won't come on. No turn signal lights on the dash or the ticking noise that usually comes with it, either. I'm thinking I have a short somewhere?

 

Strange... they are all working now. There must be an intermittent short somewhere... not sure where, though.

 

Any chance you have an after market head unit? When I put mine in my old taco the same thing happened. Took it in and they said that I pulled just enough on the wiring harness to unplug some of the wires that run my dash cluster lights? Kinda a shot in the dark but I figure I would throw it up there

 

Trailer wiring has caused all sorts of weird shit for me too, I once magically achieved the corner light turn signal mod because of it.

 

This is what I have. It came with the truck, just a face plate. Radio doesn't work, because antenna is broken. Previous owner broke it off, I guess. I put it in the truck when I first got it running, and it's had it installed for a while now- it's been just the past few days that these problems have been coming up with the lights.

I don't even have trailer wiring on the Taco. I don't even have a receiver. I will eventually, but when I bought it, there was no sort of towing package on it. It's probably never pulled a trailer.

 

Same thing happened in my 1994 taco I was messing with the stereo and the lights would not come on so I took apart the dash somewhat and right behind the switches for the vents there was a light that had fallen out of place and I put it back into place and it works fine

 

Could you explain the 15 minute steps. Every other explanation, seems to be hours/days.

 

Youtube has a ton of video examples if you search there, might be a good start.

 

Started there-none were very informative!

 

You couldn’t find a video of someone replacing bulbs? Or couldnt find a way to get the dash out faster? What are you searching for exactly? I’m happy to help but i need to understand

 

Not showing for 1996, Gen 1-2.7--4x4. Only thing I learned was lots of snaps that can easily be broken, and screws that may be well hidden.

 

I did it once on my 1995.5 2.7 4x4 MT. It was NOT 15 min. You need to remove center panel, and left panel. To remove the center panel you will deal with radio, Climate control and center vents. One SOB is AC button and climate control. And the left side needs to be removed too - things to unplug and-or removed. I took me good 15 minutes just to stare et the back of the panel that can't be pulled because the speedo cable was attached and I couldn't reach to it to get it disconnected. Not a 15 minute job.

 

Yep-have a 1996 problem-sitting in my 2021 drive way.

 

I was hoping this guy would pull a hidden rabbit, out of a hidden hat!

 

It’s definitely not 15 minutes unless you’re really fast and knowledgeable. It’s involved but not really that hard if you’re organized and patient. For what its worth the difference between years and models shouldn’t be too wild. Your 96 isn’t going to be way different than my 02 in terms of the process. I will say it’s not something id do unless you have a real reason.

 

The real difference is in speedo cable. I was really jealous when I saw on Youtobe video guy taking the last screw out then pulling the gauge unit out of the dash flipping around and unplugging all these cables. Before I could do that I had to figure out how am I going to put my fat short fingers between the gauge and the firewall to unscrew the nut holding the speedo cable to the panel. And then I was thinking, how am I gonna to put it back. Where I can't see no $$it.