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Weird electrical sound, shorting out. HELP

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by zakattack, Apr 5, 2014.

  1. Apr 5, 2014 at 1:22 PM
    #1
    zakattack

    zakattack [OP] Member

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    Zak
    Wrentham Ma
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    '03 SR5 Ltd Trd, stock
    not sure if this is in the right section.

    I have a 2003 Xtra Cab Tacoma.
    When i turn my headlight switch to the "off" position i get a loud high pitch electrical sound. It SEEMS to be coming from the "tail" relay under the hood.

    After pulling the relay the sound goes away. but obviously i have no interior dash lights or tail lights when doing so.

    I need ideas of where to look and what for, i dont know a lot about cars and almost nothing about automotive electrical/ wiring but im fairly mechanically inclined. any advice would be most welcome THANKS!
     
  2. Apr 5, 2014 at 1:29 PM
    #2
    BamaToy1997

    BamaToy1997 Wheel Bearing Master

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    Navarre, FL
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    best wheel bearings around! www.marionbumper2bumper.com
    Sounds like the relay is "hyperactive" in that the control may be turned off, but the relay is "pulsing" itself internally. Replacing the relay seems to be the most logical conclusion at this point.
     
  3. Apr 5, 2014 at 2:45 PM
    #3
    zakattack

    zakattack [OP] Member

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    '03 SR5 Ltd Trd, stock
    i did replace the relay immediately after the problem started to no avail.
     
  4. Apr 6, 2014 at 5:36 PM
    #4
    BamaToy1997

    BamaToy1997 Wheel Bearing Master

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    best wheel bearings around! www.marionbumper2bumper.com
    Then I would check the control side of the relay for a short.
     
  5. Apr 6, 2014 at 6:20 PM
    #5
    joes06tacoma

    joes06tacoma Well-Known Member

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    Central Coast, CA
    Vehicle:
    06 4x4 Off Road Access Cab v6 6spd
    LEER Shell with dome lights operated with 3 way switches, aux backup lights with relay and 3 position switch, modified wiring to compass/temp display and clock to include switch that disables dimming function (poor man's DRL solution), Scan Gauge 2
    I have a 2nd gen, but I am drawing from my experience driving a 2004.

    Since the truck has the ability to shut off the lights when you turn off the key and open the door, that tells me there is a "brain" somewhere. I believe it's part of the interior fuse box.

    I have hooked up accessory relays to a computerized "trigger" wire using pulse width modulation to dim lights slowly (factory dome light circuit on my 2nd gen). The result was that my accessory relay made a high pitched chattering sound. Basically the control circuit of the relay was being turned on and off rapidly. Sounds exactly like you describe.

    Without being a pro mechanic (but pretty smart with electrical), I would pull the tail light relay and put a volt meter across the control terminals where the relay plugged in. Typically the control "coil" on a relay is labeled with "86" and "85" terminals. Not sure if the meter is going to pick up a rapidly pulsing voltage like that, but I was able to watch the display flicker when testing my dome light circuit. It was obvious there wasn't a full voltage present. Your relay should either have 12V to the coil, or 0V to the coil, not anything in between.

    I think you have a bad body control module, which I believe is part of the fuse block.
     

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