1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

No power to dash but headlights still work

Discussion in 'Technical Chat' started by Finn 4x4, Jul 1, 2017.

  1. Jul 1, 2017 at 7:31 AM
    #1
    Finn 4x4

    Finn 4x4 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2017
    Member:
    #222817
    Messages:
    8
    Gender:
    Male
    I have a 2003 Toyota Tacoma. Just the other day i got out of work and tried to start the truck and no power. Turned the key, no dash lights. No power to the dash. No lights, no radio nothing on the dash. I still have strong head lights so its not the battery. Then I'll go back to work the next day and it works. As soon as i get in the truck and and turn the key just to on and if the idiot lights come on on the dash the truck will start and drive as normal. I must have tried the ignition like twenty times periodically and its only failed me twice. Of course both times it dosnt work is at work at midnight. But like i said ill go back the next day and it works. I havent been driving the truck since it has happened to me the second time because i dont trust it and when i get home from work I'll see if the ignition works and it does (because the truck is home in the driveway right) anyone have any ever have this problem. Thanks
     
  2. Jul 3, 2017 at 2:44 PM
    #2
    TacomaTerry

    TacomaTerry Member

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2017
    Member:
    #223056
    Messages:
    6
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2003 4x4 Tacoma Double cab
    Have you solved your problem? I have a 2003 Tacoma with dash light problems(no lights to the guages or odometer- the cluster) and a fuse to the turn signals which is burning out. intermitently....
     
  3. Jul 3, 2017 at 7:56 PM
    #3
    Finn 4x4

    Finn 4x4 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2017
    Member:
    #222817
    Messages:
    8
    Gender:
    Male
    Well im not sure the guy who works on my truck recommended putting in a new ignition switch. My fuse to the turn signals doesn't blow though. I will try the ignition switch this week starting Thursday and see how it is. He said he looked into the situation and the only other thing he can see it being is the main computer if it isnt the ignition switch. We will see. Fingers crossed.
     
  4. Jul 5, 2017 at 10:34 PM
    #4
    Breakfast Taco

    Breakfast Taco Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2017
    Member:
    #223169
    Messages:
    2,990
    SW CT
    Vehicle:
    2002 4x4 5spd 2.7L
    Do your headlights come on with no key in the ignition normally? If yes, then maybe it's the switch. If no, I'd say it's not the switch as the headlights come on.

    I recently had a similar issue with a Ford truck. Moved it to the shade, washed it, cleaned under the hood, went to put it back after & it behaved like there was no battery in the vehicle. Ended up being a broken ring terminal at the starter solenoid, it was corroded & I had broken it when cleaning under the hood, but it was sitting so it appeared complete.

    point being it might be a loose connection somewhere & you'll have to follow the electrons to see where they go astray. I just hate to see people throw parts at a problem until something happens to fix the issue. Hopefully he will test the ignition switch rather than just replace it & hope.
     
  5. Jul 12, 2017 at 9:24 AM
    #5
    Finn 4x4

    Finn 4x4 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2017
    Member:
    #222817
    Messages:
    8
    Gender:
    Male
    Hello Breakfast taco my head lights always come on without the key. I used the truck going to work last Thursday,it was fine. I didn't take it Friday night but took it Monday night and Tuesday night and both nights it has been fine. I'll take it the rest of the this week hopefully without an issue. I did have a new ignition put in. Not the hole key, the key or barrel is the same. He put in the electrical plastic peace underneath the part that holds the accutual Key it self. It's what the barrel or the steal part that holds the actual key it self goes in. I'm thinking that was the problem because I'm thinking I would have had the problem accure again. But I can't be to sure yet to say it's fixed. I would say if it works tonight (Wednesday) and Thursday and Friday I would say it's probably fixed but I'll see. I'll keep you informed. Hope this is being of some help.
     
  6. Jul 14, 2017 at 6:36 AM
    #6
    Finn 4x4

    Finn 4x4 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2017
    Member:
    #222817
    Messages:
    8
    Gender:
    Male
    Took the truck to work last night after new ignition switch was installed and something happened. Turned the key to on ...... nothing ....no dash lights no power to the dash at all but horn works and hawed lights come on. And of course from that point truck wont turn over. Nothing. Take key out put key back in several times ...... nothing. Going back to work this morning and going to try to get the truck home. The track record is the truck will function normal today. Frustrating to say the least.
     
  7. Jul 16, 2017 at 9:28 AM
    #7
    Breakfast Taco

    Breakfast Taco Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2017
    Member:
    #223169
    Messages:
    2,990
    SW CT
    Vehicle:
    2002 4x4 5spd 2.7L
    Does your truck have an alarm system / starter kill? It's acting like the power is getting interrupted by a security system that isn't 'unlocking' the vehicles starting/running systems.
     
    Last edited: Jul 19, 2017
  8. Jul 21, 2017 at 8:37 AM
    #8
    Finn 4x4

    Finn 4x4 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2017
    Member:
    #222817
    Messages:
    8
    Gender:
    Male
    Hi breakfast taco. No alarm system. The truck does have a clutch cancel switch on the dash which is having you push the clutch all the way to the floor before starting.if you turn the ignition to on then push the switch on the dash it bypasses that switch on the floor for the clutch. I dont think it is that because in all my efforts in this hole ordeal i havent found that this picticular switch comes into play. What i have found out is that moisture seams like it has a lot to do with the problem accuring. During the day the truck will operate normally but at night if there is dew in the air and on the vehicul is when it acts up. And early the next morning as it still somewhat dewy problem still exists. Then around 10:30 in the morning when the dew dries up the truck will work normal. And when the nights are dry(the air dry not dewy)is when i find it is acting up. I did put a code reader on the truck. With the ignition off the code reader comes up with an error, looking for the truck computer. Then when i turn the ignition to on (with the dash lights working,like the truck working normal) the code reader reads the truck computer and comes up with no codes. When the truck is acting up with the ignition on and no dash lights i plug the code reader in and the code reader reads the truck computer like normal but yet no dash lights,no power at all to the dash and truck wont turn over. So thats the latest news. The code reader can still accsese the truck computer even though there is know power to the dash. Thanks for your input.
     
  9. Jul 21, 2017 at 10:58 PM
    #9
    Breakfast Taco

    Breakfast Taco Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2017
    Member:
    #223169
    Messages:
    2,990
    SW CT
    Vehicle:
    2002 4x4 5spd 2.7L
    With my current Tacoma & previous F250, my reader would have power at the plug with the vehicle turned off. So I suspect all vehicles have the OBD port powered always. The OBD only reads some conditions - not all by any means. I will hazard a guess from your observations - the moisture you mention may be causing a short to ground or there is gunk in a connection that swells up breaking contact when it gets wet. I will further guess it's something on the exterior of the vehicle - so probably in the engine bay. I suppose logic requires you to take an electrical tester & measure continuity starting at the battery & working your way back to the ignition, section by section. A simpler start may be - next time it's dead start wiggling wires & tapping on fuses/relays - but in a logical & sequential manner, stopping to attempt to start the vehicle after wiggling a specific defined area so you know where to zoom in on once the vehicle starts. ...or, when it's running you could try wiggling wires, connections, tapping fuses/relays to see if you can kill it. Obvious caveat - engine has moving parts, engine will be hot, chock a wheel when in front of the truck so it can't run you over...

    Random electrical glitches are always a headache, but most satisfying when you conquer them. Rather expensive when you hire it out, but potentially the professional resolves the issue faster.

    Wish I knew more to offer, but I'm only about 4 weeks familiar with the Tacoma's.
     
  10. Jul 25, 2017 at 9:06 AM
    #10
    Finn 4x4

    Finn 4x4 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2017
    Member:
    #222817
    Messages:
    8
    Gender:
    Male
    Thanks breakfast taco. Its come down to a spray bottle of water under the hood. One section at a time to see if i can pinpoint the problem. Well the spray bottle turned into fully soaking under the hood. The truck worked under those conditions,go figure. Yesterday was a rainy day around sixty degrees and the truck failed all day. Today its damp but the roads are dry, temperature at sixty again and truck is not working. Im beginning to think it might be the outside temperature.

    When the truck is working normal the code reader powers up but cant read my truck computer with the key off. When i turn the ignition on and the dash lights work it reads the truck computer and it dosnt find any codes but its able to read it non the less. When the dash lights are not working and the ignition is on the code reader is still able to read the truck computer. So i dont think its the trucks main computer it's something from the main computer to the truck dash. Im not sure if there is like a relay. Maybe a relay is malfunctioning dew to moisture or outside temperature?
     
  11. Jul 25, 2017 at 8:20 PM
    #11
    Breakfast Taco

    Breakfast Taco Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2017
    Member:
    #223169
    Messages:
    2,990
    SW CT
    Vehicle:
    2002 4x4 5spd 2.7L
    That's a funny typo! ...dew to moisture - LOL

    I'm not sure if these have a "main fuse", but that doesn't sound right. A relay is more likely to work erratically & a cracked case could be less damp proof & being in a fuse box might have kept it free from your spritzing. I guess your next steps are to look at your relays & see if any of them sound like it covers the systems affected. If you have another damp day no start - try using a hair dryer over your fuses/relay's & see if that cures it. Also, keep your eyes open for any green corrosion, you could have some growing on the underside of the fuse/relay panel.
     
  12. Jul 29, 2017 at 6:07 PM
    #12
    wilcam47

    wilcam47 Keep on keeping on!

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2016
    Member:
    #176243
    Messages:
    49,938
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Will
    Bourbon state
    back to the clutch switch, do you have to push the clutch switch to start it? if so Id say its the clutch position switch..
     
  13. Jul 29, 2017 at 6:41 PM
    #13
    Finn 4x4

    Finn 4x4 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2017
    Member:
    #222817
    Messages:
    8
    Gender:
    Male
    Well there is a clutch switch on the dashboard. You have to push the clutch to the floor to activate the switch somewhere on the clutch peddle. If you dont want to push the clutch to the floor then you push the switch on the dashboard to over ride the switch on the peddle as the ignition is turned on. But all of that happens when the dash has power to it. My problem is when i turn the ignition switch to on no power to the dash which results in no power to the starter. Headlights work all the time. If the dash has power or not so its Probably not the battery.
     
    wilcam47 likes this.
  14. Jul 29, 2017 at 6:56 PM
    #14
    wilcam47

    wilcam47 Keep on keeping on!

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2016
    Member:
    #176243
    Messages:
    49,938
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Will
    Bourbon state
  15. Aug 1, 2017 at 10:22 AM
    #15
    Finn 4x4

    Finn 4x4 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2017
    Member:
    #222817
    Messages:
    8
    Gender:
    Male
    Thanks Wilcam47 the difference with me is that i always have strong head light and high beams. When i do have power to the dash the truck operates completely normal. Dosnt drag trying to start. Starts right up. I have to say when the outside temperature gets to around sixty degrees thats when the problem shows up. With it being July to august the outside temperature is still warm even at sixty degrees. If it was like thirty degrees it might not work ever if it is the lower outside temperature. I dont know that yet. I was able to start it over the weekend with the outside temperature being around eighty degrees and i ran the A/C for around twenty minutes to cool down the inside of the cab thinking maybe if i could get the temperature inside the cab cool if i could pinpoint the problem to the inside of the cab. Turned off the truck and turned the ignition back on to see if it would fail and it didn't. Bummer, frustrating.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top