Remote Start / Interior Lighting issue

So you say you connected the Illumination wiring to the head unit. This has caused many many headaches on the Tacoma's.

See this thread, post # 9 and 10 in the Audio Visual Forums:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/audio-video/51156-after-market-install-gage-light-not-working.html

This may be the cause of your problems or at least some of it. You may have blown out the rheostat for the dash dimmer. Which runs about $175.00 at the dealer.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/audio-video/298602-new-hu-now-gauge-cluster-wont-dim.html

 

No offense intended. But the facts are with a blown fuse the lights will not come on at all, under any circumstances.

I think something got pulled or loose or he blew the rheostat with the illumination wire... or both.

 

Not sure if this will help but here is the diagnostic procedures for the complete lighting system
Lighting
Lighting System: Precaution
Headlight Assembly: Components
Headlight Assembly: Removal
Headlight Assembly: Adjustment, Installation
Headlight Assembly: Repair
Fog Light Assembly: Components, Removal
Fog Light Assembly: Adjustment
Fog Light Assembly: Installation
Rear Combination Light Assembly: Components, Removal
Rear Combination Light Assembly: Installation
License Plate Light Assembly: Components, Removal
License Plate Light Assembly: Installation
High Mounted Stop Light Assembly: Components, Removal
High Mounted Stop Light Assembly: Installation
Map Light Assembly: Inspection
Room Light Assembly: Inspection
Headlight Dimmer Switch: Components, Removal
Headlight Dimmer Switch: Inspection, Installation
Hazard Warning Switch: Inspection
Front Fog Light Switch: Inspection
Stop Light Switch: Inspection
Front Door Courtesy Switch: Inspection
Rear Door Courtesy Switch: Inspection
Turn Signal Flasher Assembly: On-Vehicle Inspection
Headlight Relay: Inspection
Headlight Dimmer Relay: Inspection
Taillight Relay: Inspection
Fog Light Relay: Inspection
Trailer Socket: Components, Removal, Installation
Towing Tail Relay: Inspection
Towing Converter Relay: Components
Towing Converter Relay: On-Vehicle Inspection, Removal, Installation
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

 

Am I the only one that sees the logic that it can't be a relay or a fuse, because:

-tail lights and interior lights function when remote started. All the remote start unit does is, it applies ground to the circuit instead of the headlight control switch. Meaning all fuses and relays have to be functional for the lights to come on when remote started. (Which they do)

- as soon as you put the key in the ignition, for key takeover, and touch the brake pedal the remote start unit is dis activated and oem headlight control switch takes control of lighting. Which does not work. Leading me to believe that there might be a problem with the switch itself.

 

Tail fuse, if this matches your truck fuse box behind the coin holder. This fuse controls the lights you have out. Replace it.

 

Wiring

 

The remote start has internal relays and 12 volts of power for the remote start. They (remote start installers) spliced into the green wire below the gray box area of the schematic. So if the remote start is putting 12 volts to that wire and it has a ground, you have lights. When remote start power is removed, (key in ignition,brake pedal pressed) it removes that 12 volt power to the wire going to lighting. Thats why you have lights in remote start mode. The relay under the hood is only for towing. I removed mine and it had no effect on the lights. It does actuate when I turn the light switch to parking light position. When I removed the fuse marked tail behind the coin holder fuse box I lost all the lights you have out. With all that said, replace the fuse.

 

Valid point. Although this is only true if they use 12 volts to power the tail lights and not a ground signal at the switch. I don't know which method the installers used, but if they did use the 12 volt method this point is a very good suggestion.

 

Yes that's the fuse.

 

The dash lights and parking lights are on the same circuit.

- Do your parking lights ever come on?
- Have you checked the fuse for these?
- Could the switch on the "stalk" for the parking lights be bad or could the connector be loose?

One thing I have encountered in the past on an older japanese vehicle was the connector for the light switch had a burnt terminal so it was making intermittant contact. sometimes the dash lights and parking lights would just go out because of this

 

Is it blown?

 

There are spare fuses in the fuse boxes. Marked as spare.

 

10A Tail behind coin box. If you still have a power to ground issue that fuse will blow immediately.

 

Awesome! Rep to Coma12

 

X2

He gets full greens now. Congrats Coma.

 

for someone who claims you aren't trying to offend me, you sure did a good job of pissing me off. you had some good info about the rheostat that i've never seen before, but like i said blown fuses can cause weird problems sometimes. hense why i was trying to start at the basics and make sure he was checking the fuses properly.

really glad you got it working, and thats awesome that it was a cheap and easy fix.

now get a voltage tester so next time you have to check fuses you can do it fast and accurately instead of pulling every fuse and looking at it!

x2

and he only has 7 posts!

 

Thanks for the replies back. It was my turn to return the favor to a member of this forum. Member of Tundra Solutions the past ten years. The information is never ending on this site. Just ordered some Katzkins leather for the 2012 Tacoma from JHuey this week. Would not even attempt the install myself without first reviewing all the post. Will be posting pics after the holiday.

 

Sorry, but you need some thicker skin if you are that easily offended or pissed off.

OP I'm glad you have it repaired. I learned that these Viper alarms are installed in many different ways. Sort of crazy they wired a completely different 12 VDC into the light circuit.

But as stated if you are going to be doing electrical work of any type invest in a decent multimeter, it is a time saver.

 

Or even a simple test light. That's what I usually use.