Shifter light no power

Hey all, curious if someone can help. I have a 2014 Tacoma that I just purchased and noticed that the shifter light is not working.

- I have tried a new bulb
- I have checked continuity of all fuses
- I have checked for power at the bulb socket and there's no power
- took the console apart and made sure it was plugged in and the wires are in good shape

All my other dash lights work, *except* for my hazard button light. My dimmer switch for my dash lights also does not work. (if you have ideas for these much appreciated too, not sure if they're all related).

Thank you again everyone!

 

So the Tail Light fuse is good? If so then look at the drawing below.You can see that the AC Controls, Shift Lever Automatic, Combination meter, Stereo Controls in steering wheel, and Hazard Warning illumination all come from the same junction connector J4. J4 gets power from the Tail Fuse.

So if some of these are working and the shifter lamp is not getting power the issue would be in the J4 connector or the wiring going to the shifter lamp.

 

A few questions?

1. Do the lights for A/C controls work?
2. If you have Fog Lights, does the switch for them light up?
3. Do you have an aftermarket radio?

I know you say you have no power, but let’s focus on the rheostat. AKA the Dimmer
This is what proved a ground for those lights.

 

I tried to take pictures of the working/not working lights. It appears every light to the left of the steering wheel doesn't work, including the fog light button. A/C knob lights are working. As far as I'm aware, the radio is stock.

Thank you!

 

Awesome. Thank you for the diagram. I will re-check that fuse tomorrow and let y'all know.

 

I’d suspect it is good.
That fuse powers the A/C Controls also.
Since they work, the fuse is “probably” good.

 

Yeah that is looking like a dimmer rheostat issue. It varies the ground connection for those switch indicators, the combination meter, stereo steering wheel controls.

One thing that seems to work for some is to unplug the dimmer rheostat entirely which should cause the lights to go full bright.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...hts-and-traction-button.701020/#post-24841603

 

You remember this too huh?
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rheostat-dash-dimmer-set-on-high-not-able-to-adjust.676461/

The good old days when you and Muddin were “learning me” how to read a schematic. LOL

 

Sorry, I'm a bit of a noob when it comes to all of this. Are you saying to get a new dimmer switch? I don't know what a rheostat is.
I'll check tomorrow to see if the dimmer switch is plugged in, I just hope it's relatively easy to get to.

Thank you!

 

No, we are saying unplug the dimmer and see what happens.
But, you say you have no power to the plug. So it’s 50/50 anything will happen.
I don’t mean to question your abilities, not knowing how you determined no power to the plug makes me wonder? Sometimes it can be hard to find a good ground to “check” for power. It’s happened to me.

Again, unplug the dimmer and see what happens.

 

I was pretty sure I checked for power correctly with the multimeter, but again I'm not sure. I'm just confused that some of the lights are working and others are not.
This isn't me doubting you, just trying to understand, but why would the A/C, Combo meter and radio lights be working in this scenario? They're all on full bright all the time.

 

Full bright all the time, huh?
That leads me towards the dimmer.
When the dimmer is unplugged, all the lights should go FULL bright.
At this point, it’s definitely worth unplugging the dimmer.

Why would some work and others not?

- Because electricity is a strange beast.
If left unattended, it can do what it wants sometimes. Not really, but electrical systems can cause strange issues when not working properly.

If unplugging the dimmer doesn’t help, we’ll have to move on to wire connectors.
And the ones I’d check are in the dash, behind the radio.

 

The dimmer wheel is the rheostat. Basically a variable resistance.

 

Awesome, I'll check it out today and will let y'all know what happens. Thank you!

 

Took apart that side of the dash and found that my dimmer switch was unplugged already. The plug was plugged into a spare button spot.
Plugged the dimmer switch back in and voila, the dimmer works and the shifter light works. The hazard button light and fog button light are still out but honestly don't care much about that at the moment.

Do you know why someone would do this?

Thank you so much TNShooter and Jimmyh. I really appreciate all the help!

Attached a picture below. Dimmer is top right.

 

Likely someone had it apart and either didn't know how it went or just missed it when they plugged stuff back in.

 

Glad to see you worked it out and solved it! Again, if not for this forum and it was me having this issue, it would have never even occured to me to check the dimmer switch as the cause of the trouble.

Going forward: keep in mind that's it's also not uncommon for all of the lights in the left hand switches to fail/burn out eventually so dont assume the old problem is back. I was someone who aquired a truck and only one switch was illuminated (fog lights). I just figured it was the only switch with a bulb. Again: I learned here that all of them should be back-lit (on a 2014) except for the 120v outlet switch. (which I do not have)

 

I appreciate the tip! My next step is to change out some of those tiny bulbs to see if I can get them working. Not looking forward to doing the hazard button bulb though.

 

The lower switches on the left are easy: just reach up behind and gently push to pop them out. The upper ones are harder, esp the for the fog light switch because it's above the big outside mirror switch. There is a post on it in here somewhere.

Here are the part numbers for the tiny switch bulbs. About $6.00 each at the dealer.

Toyota Bulb, W/CAP Amber 90011-01058
Toyota Bulb, W/CAP Green 90010-01062

 

Sweet thank you! It wasn't too hard to get to the fog light button bulb earlier. I just had to pop the dash open. Just two plastic pins and a couple bolts. Those part numbers will come in handy!