2009 Toyota Tacoma dash lights

I installed a aftermarket stereo in my truck. If I don't hook up the illumination wire, I don't have no dash lights. If I hook up the illumination wire I have dash lights, but when I turn on the headlights on, the dash lights goes out. I check all the fuses and none is blown. Can anyone help???

 

Did you check the fuses in the cab? The tail fuse may have blown. It is a 10 amp fuse top row second or third one to the right. If you remove the small compartment to the bottom left of the wheel you will see the fuse panel

 

I would post this in the Audio/Video Forum. There are some sharp cookies there that would probably have better answers to this question.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/audio-video.12/

Be prepared to give them the specifics of what head unit and how you connected the illumination wires. Tacoma's are very picky about the Illumination circuit and how it is connected.

Some head units will fry the dimmer rheostat if it is connected.

I installed a Pioneer Stereo in mine and didn't connect the Orange and Orange and white illumination wires just because I didn't want the headache. My dash illumination works just fine. The only issue is the head unit doesn't dim, that is fine with me.

I hope you didn't burn out the Dimmer Rheostat to the left of the steering wheel.

Here is a search in Tacoma World Audio/Video Forum for you to start with:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/search/9482231/?q=Dimmer+Rheostat&t=post&o=date&c[node]=12

 

Ask https://www.tacomaworld.com/members/caribe-makaira.51121/
He knows a thing or two

 

it is a Pioneer DEH4400.. is it easy to replace the Dimmer Rheostat ???

 

Yes it is fairly straightforward it just plugs in. Unfortunately the dash on the drivers side bottom area will need to be removed to get to it for removal.

 

thank of you for your help... it was the dimmer Rheostat