2008 tacoma Power outlet fuse keeps blowing

Hello,

I just bought a 2008 toyota tacoma when i was visiting lexington kentucky last week. Anyways it is a very sharp truck and so far I love it. However i am having a problem. The fuse behind the coin holder for the cig lighter and power outlet keeps blowing. It blows as soon as i plug anything in the power outlet. So i got a splitter deal and used the cig lighter outlet to run my siruis radio and high range transmitter for it. Neither of them draw much power. It worked on the cig outlet for 3 days. I unpluged it to re-route my wires. When i plugged it back in it blew the fuse again. I have replaced that fuse 5 times now. I even upgraded it to a 25 and it still keeps blowing. Im almost certain there has to be a skinned wire inside the dash or something that is causing it to short out when i plug something in. If anyone else has had this problem can you please tell me how you fixed it. This is getting very annoying.



If not does anyone know how i can take the power outlet out to check it.


Thanks,
Bobby

 

You probably have a short. Find the wires for it and follow them where ever they go and see if one is cut or the sheeting on the wire is torn.

 

I have a 100,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty on this truck with no deductable. If i start pulling stuff out to check the wires will that terminate my warranty? I would take it to the toyota dealer and let them fix it. But i know they will want to keep the truck for a few days. I need it to get back and forth to work so thats kind of a last option thing

 

I will go back outside and look under the dash. Who knows i may not have to pull any of it out. I will update you if i find anything.

 

Ok the wire is not accesable by looking under dash. Some how the ports have to slide out or the bottom cubby hole in order to access it. Anyone know how with out damaging it?

 

Yes, you're on the right track as far as it being a short. You have to be careful when replacing fuses. The fuse is to protect the wire from failing (burning up) due to the load. Going with a higher amp fuse is asking for a fire.

Good luck.

 

Do you know how to take the power ports out to check the wiring?

 

If it only blows when you plug in a certain device, it's probably that device. Don't burn it down in the meantime overrating your wiring with too big of a fuse.

 

Look very close at the inside of the power socket. It is a long shot, but there could be something inside the socket. I had a vehicle that did the same thing, there turned out to be a small staple that had fallen into the outlet. Kinda hard to happen to these trucks since the socket is completely horizontal, but worth looking into.

 

another way to check a short is to remove the fuse then take a volt meter. put it to diode check so it beeps when you touch the two together. put one probe straight down the center and one on the side wall of the lighter socket. if it beeps you indeed have a short.

You can grab the edge of the lighter socket and gently pull/twist it out. unplug the lighter check the wire to ground it should nt beep. if it does just keep following the wire until you find the short

 

also, dont put more than a 7.5a fuse or you could burn your truck up. if you popped a 25a fuse you have a dead short and can risk a fir by putting in fuses larger than the capacity of the wire

 

Right now im out of spare fuses got to get more this week. But i will indeed take ur advice to put the oem spec fuse back. I did check inside the port for foreign objects. That was one of my first thoughts. I have 4 boys and they are constently doing stuff like that. However there was nothing inside of it. I did do a contennuity check on the fuse port and did not get a reading. I will try it again on back side of port once i get it out. Thanks

 

continuity on the fuse port wont tell you anything except there is no fuse. the positive from the battery come to the fuse and continues through the other side. it wont show a short.

 

I know it's been said before but I'll say it again, don't put a higher amp fuse in that slot or any slot for that matter. You are just begging for trouble.

 

I called the dealer ship and yes they will fix it for free but the problem is they want to keep the truck for 3 days to do it. That is so ignorant. Anyways i will attempt to do it myself before going that route. Does anyone know were i can find a stymatic for it? Im journeyman lineman not a machanic but im sure i can fix it. Just need to know how to get the bottom section of the dash out to inspect the wires.

 

heres a schematic. your a lineman this should be a breeze for you. with the fuse removed did you check continuity from the positive to negative in the socket???

 

Found the solution to the problem! Well somewhat. If i dont plug in all the way to the outlets, (Just enough for them to turn on) it doesnt blow the fuse. I looked, there is nothing inside the port. So i wonder why it blows if its plugged all the way in. It has to be going phase to ground some how (For non jourymans, that moreless means shorting out).

 

Thank you so much

 

I fixed the problem several weeks ago. I intended on updating you on my findings but with my wife in the hospital and me taking care of my four boys, i simply forgot about it.

Anyways here was the solution.

1. Took both power outlets out to were i could see the connection.
2. The connections on both were corroded because who ever owned the truck before me, did not put patorlium based inhibitor on the connections.
3. The power outlet positive prong was bent way over some how. (I believe the previous owner replaced the outlets with pour workmanship)
4. I got the connections cleaned up and straightened (Carefully so i wouldnt brake it)
5. I put the inhibitor on it that i normally use to hook up house services in the meter base slides.
6. Put a small shrink on the connections to keep them sealed.


So far i have not had any problems what so ever. The fuse was replaced with the factory 7.5 mini fuse. I believe the problem has been corrected.

Note: If you do anywork on your tacoma please take your time and use the best workmanship that you are capable of doing. (Take pride in your work) The reason i say this is, because if you later trade the truck off, you have set the next owner up to have needless problems like i just experienced. I have a moto i live by. "If its worth doing, then its worth doing right!" It doesnt always involve more money, it mainly boils down to your work ethic.

Thanks for all the help,

Bobby R Maynard Jr