This dummy light is just that... A F*CKIN DUMMY LIGHT!!!!! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

01-13-2003, 09:38 AM

OK I can't figure this one out... Why, if all of my lights are in good working order, is my "LIGHTS" dummy light coming on? It goes on from time to time but lately its been happening more regularly. My headlights, driving lights, reverse lights, brake light, taillights, dash lights, and everything else are AOK so what's the problem? Is something wrong with the dummy light? Or is one of those things that just happen, with no explanation, that should just be ignored? AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

[SMAN] · 01-13-2003, 10:26 AM

Well, I'm not sure if this helps, but when i first got my neons put on. After having them on for a while the dummy light would go on and would go off till i turned off my car. I has stopped that now, but maybe it has to do with draining the battery or something???

01-13-2003, 12:11 PM

I don't think its the battery- one its less than a year old, and two I never leave anything on (stereo, lights, what have you) when the engine is off. However, I don't think the alternator has ever been replaced... though I don't seem to have lost any juice yet I doubt that means anything. I guess Ill end up living with it for now... I'll just put a piece of electrical tape where the light is!

Steve

Studious · 01-13-2003, 03:49 PM

did u try the lights by the license plates? thats set mine off

01-13-2003, 06:50 PM

Studious- they work too. AAAHHHH I cant for the life of me figure this one out! Time for the electrical tape over the light.

Steve

white90dx · 01-14-2003, 01:53 AM

Check your brake fluid.... and the switch for the parking brake. Those are also trigger that light on the dash in the gen2.

Start the car without the brakes depressed and with the parking brake off (be careful). Does the light go on? If not, press the brakes. does the light go one? Pull the parking brake then take it off, does the light go on? Turn on the headlights. Does the light go on? Narrow down what is causing the light. It resets itself after every time you shut off the car, so you should be able to troubleshoot easily. Check very carefully in whatever group of lights causes the problem.

I sometimes have an intermittent connection in my center brake light - it looks like its working every time I check it, pretty much, but every once in a while the light on the dash goes on and I notice the center brake light isn't working. (luckily this hasn't happened for a while) If you have an assistant, have them wiggle the wires while doing the same tests as above to do more troubleshooting if necessary.

As a last resort, there is a rear light out sensor unit in the trunk area that could be faulty...

-Charlie

01-14-2003, 08:36 AM

Charlie thanks for the advice, I know my rear brakes have been messing with me and the RR wheel cylinder needs to be replaced. You can see it leak out the back of the drum. As far as I know my brake fluid is A-OK but I'll check again. Also my e-brake seems to have fallen out of adjustment. Thanks

Steve

chris1898 · 01-14-2003, 09:34 AM

I fried my brake light sensor no mine always stays on :roll:

white90dx · 01-14-2003, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris1898

I fried my brake light sensor no mine always stays on :roll:

Yeah, that sucks. Its an expensive part. Maybe see if you can get one from a junkyard?

-Charlie

chris1898 · 01-14-2003, 01:27 PM

well i just fried one of the traces on the ciruit board so i fixed that so my taillights work but the light still comes on. o well

01-15-2003, 09:17 AM

OK when I left my friend's house last night I had the ebrake on when I started the car. When I applied the regular brakes before I disengaged the e-brake, the light came on. At least now I have a good idea how to duplicate the condition... white90dx you got any ideas? you've been the most helpful so far...

Steve

white90dx · 01-15-2003, 12:44 PM

Go through the steps I described above. Try narrowing it down to one group of lights (parking lights or brake lights), or a single sensor (e-brake or fluid level). There is also a reasonably large chance that the taillight sensor went bad. It can also be sensitive to differences in current draw between the different bulbs. Have you recently changed one?

-Charlie

crazy_camry · 01-15-2003, 05:26 PM

what is 'e-brake'? does it stand for emergency brake? where is it and what does it do?

chris1898 · 01-15-2003, 05:28 PM

I hope thats supose to be a joke.

white90dx · 01-15-2003, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazy_camry

what is 'e-brake'? does it stand for emergency brake? where is it and what does it do?

:o :o :o
Yes e-brake = emergency brake = parking brake = hand brake. Its called the emergency brake sometimes because it is cable actuated instead of hydraulically actuated. I hope you just didn't know the term...

-Charlie