Grounding issues need help!

Not sure if i am posting this to the right area, but i have a mostly stock 96 2.7L 5-speed.

Every time I turn on my headlights and almost every time I press the brakes, my dash lights and stereo short out and then turn back on. I checked the terminals on my battery and they are clean. Any ideas?

Note: when I purchased the Tacoma it had an amp and crappy subs in the back.

 

Have you tested the battery and alternator first to rule out low voltage issues?

 

No, but I will now though. I basically know nothing about electrical unfortunately. Thanks!

 

Bad ground can cause issues as well, but I always start with the battery and alternator because you can just run down to the local auto parts store and have them check it out for you in 5 minutes. If those test good let us know and we can start down the next steps. Feel free to PM if you want, I'll respond quicker that way.

 

do you have a trailer plug on it? if o disconnect it from the truck wiring to see if that's it. they cause very weird stuff to happen when they get internally shorted

 

If you have a short you have a fuse open .

Have you had to replace any fuses when this happens??

Sounds more like a open circuit condition caused by a loose or corroded connection.A corroded connection can also cause a no ground condition.

Are your Brake and Tail lights working like they should ??

Really the only place outside of a trailer light converter box the brake and tail light circuits come in contact.

Now is it only the lights that go out in the stereo or does it power down ??

 

I should have said my center console lights not my dash lights.

So I recently replaced my radio antenna(dont buy an antenna from oreillys) and now magically my issue has gone away. Now when i turn on my head lights some of my center console lights dim but nothing completely turns off anymore.