Dash Lights turn on fully but dimmer doesn't work

My dash lights on my 2010 Taco turn on fully, but my dimmer won't work.

In addition the heat and air dials wont light up when the headlights are turned on. I tried replacing the bulbs but it still won't light up. The orange lights on the "AC" and "Air Circulation" buttons on this unit DO light up when pressed.

Thanks for any advise on this!

 

Needs a dimmer switch.

 

Hi Jeffs68,

Thanks for writing. I suspected I might need a new switch, but does the dimmer also affect the lights for the climate knobs as well?

Thanks.

 

Do your tail lights / front park / license plate lights all work? If not, check the fuse, labeled "Tail" IIRC, or something like that.

 

Yes Landphil … all the outside lights work fine. I'm referring to the dimmer for the instrument panel lights.

Thanks for writing!

 

Yes.

 

Ok, I'm just wondering … if all the lights on the dash are brightly lit now even though the dimer is bad, why aren't the climate center light knobs fully lit as well?

I just ordered a used dimmer on eBay for $19.

Thanks again!

 

Check the bulbs in the AC Control. They are loose or burned out. They are notorious for making a bad connection.

 

Thanks for writing Jimmyh, but as I said in my first post above, I tried replacing the bulbs (4 new bulbs) but it still won't light up. The connection for both bulbs is tight.

 

All I have then is to check the AC controller as the power for these lamps comes from the same area as the others. Here is the schematic print.

Maybe a loose connection on the J3 junction block or a loose ground.

https://www.customtacos.com/tech.ol...toyewd/06toypdf/ewd/2006/tacoma/h/em01d10.pdf

 

Thanks Jimmyh .. but unfortunately I don't know how to read wiring diagrams :-( Where is the AC Controller and J3 Junction block exactly?

 

The AC Controller is the panel in the dash that isn't lighting up. The J3 Junction block should be able to locate it here:

http://www.customtacos.com/tech.old...oyewd/06toypdf/ewd/2006/tacoma/g/em01d0up.pdf

J3 is back behind the in cabin fuse panel. Refer to the drawing above and the sixth page down you can see J3 on the left side with a line pointing out the exact location under the dash.

It could also be an issue with the J2 Connection on the same page and area.

J3 is the negative side of the circuit, J2 is the positive. refer to the schematic I posted above and you will see that the green wires all go to the J2 positive and the green with white stripe all go to the J3 negative ground side.

 

Jimmyh … Thanks for the link to that pdf .. very helpful! I'm assuming then that I'll need to take part of the dash apart to get to the J2 and J3 connectors?

 

You may be able to get to them from under the dash. Depends a lot on the size of your hands.

If you have a DMM you could check the illumination wire ( Green ) to your A/C Control Panel just to see if you have voltage. If you have voltage and no lights the issue is downstream which would be the A/C Control panel or the Ground through the Rheostat itself. The Rheostat varies the current flow by adding resistance in the ground leg.

The rheostat is a two part component and you could have an issue with one side and not the other which could explain your issue. Have you tried the new Rheostat yet? That could be the ticket.

 

Thank you Jimmyh. I will look into that!

BTW ... Is there a wiring diagram available that shows where the elusive "clutch plug" under the dash is located? I've been searching for it for 3 weeks now and cannot locate it.

Thanks again!

 

Use the same link above that shows where the other connectors and junction blocks are and go down to page 5. You will see the connector C14 ( C14 is the clutch switch connector ) listed on the left with a line indicating its position.

 

OK … I looked in that area for the clutch plug many times and couldn't find it. I guess I'll need to open the dash and see if I can get better access to that area. Thanks again Jimmyh!!