Gauge Cluster Lights Out HELP - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Brown_Muscle · 01-19-2009, 07:38 PM

I just replaced my old radio with a new headunit today, and after the install the lights behind the instrument gauges do not work. There are two extra wires that i believe belonged to the dimmer for the radio that are not hooked up, however no power is going to them. I was wondering if it was something I did or an unrelated problem, I checked all the fuses.

***REN69*** · 01-19-2009, 07:48 PM

Did you use a new harness or did you cut the OEM harness? Chances are you blew a fuse... by "all fuses" what did you mean? It's not just the radio fuse that can blow.

I don't think you used a harness, otherwise you would have no wires left over unless they were for speakers.

Brown_Muscle · 01-19-2009, 10:06 PM

I used a harness, there was one ground, one power, one for the key on, one remote and 8 for speakers and they were all used, these other two wires left were smaller than the others, I checked 3 fuses, I will check the rest now.. i just hope i will not have to jerry rig it to work, rather have it factor spec haha

Brown_Muscle · 01-19-2009, 10:17 PM

Ok found out it was a fuse, the tail fuse as its called (15A), I would assume this means the tailgate lights, since when i turn the headlights on nothing on the rear lights up...i put in a new fuse in and that blew out too, tried looking at a few things making sure no wires were exposed or touching anything. I figured out that when i unplug the radio the lights work fine and the fuse doesn't blow, the radio works no matter what if its plugged in, but it obviously has to do with the radio, so im at a loss weather it has to do with those two wires, or what is going on.

sr5punk · 01-20-2009, 06:44 PM

did you color code the wires on the harness from the radio to the wire harness in the car? my guess is that its shorting out. put a cap on the two free wires. make sure you have the correct wires going to the correct places. did you use electrical tape to connect the wires or did you butt them? also i would recommend disconnecting the neg. terminal on the battery so that if there is a free wire, you don't shock yourself after plugging in. it can be nasty. post pics of your wiring too, it may help!

Brown_Muscle · 01-20-2009, 07:08 PM

Well I fixed it today..for the most part, I ran a new positive wire to the radio, as that was causing the fuse to blow. I also ran a new ground because for some reason that was causing the radio to shut down when the lights were turned on. Thanks for the advice!

-Phil