[noridetoolow]

Oh, though its not listed in the things to look at I see that the below is part of the system. I am 90% sure the buzzer DOES buzz for the split second the lights are turned on before the fuse blows.....

Light–On Warning System:
INSPECT INTEGRATION RELAY OPERATION

 

[noridetoolow]

(1) Here (attached) is the 1998 tail and illumination wiring diagram.

(2) Since it's the front corner / marker lights and taillights that are not functioning, the problem is probably limited to the sub-circuit they're on. The dash illumination branches off on a different sub-circuit.

(3) There's a good chance it's the integration relay - which is wired in-line on the problematical sub-circuit and has nothing to do with the interior dash illumination.
Awesome thanks, I was studdying that diagram (found it last night) and noticed the integration relay but had no idea where it was located. I see it now (that I have downloaded the entire manual and can search it) that its located right by the interior fuse panel. Ill pull and test this relay tonight.

(4) Check connector BN1 (under the driver's seat) for possible shorts. That connector is involved in the taillight circuit.
I did trace the harness and found where it exited the cab under the seat, Ill pull the seat to get a better look at it if the integration relay tests ok. It did look all good when I was peering un the carpet\seat with a flashlight last night but I very well could have not seen something.

(5) If you've already checked out the wiring to the front corner lights, you need to do the same for the taillight wiring.
I did the same for the tail lights, 2-3 times in fact as I assumed this was most likely where the problem was. With the exception of the 2 cut sections of the rear harness everything is intact and moderatly clean.

(6) What modified / MIA components are in the rear? You mentioned the tag lights were not there.

I believe its just the tag lights, there is a white and green wire protruding from the loom on the middle drivers side and the same on the middle pass side, I assume seperate feeds for a right and left tag light.I will correct all these open connections as soon as i narrow down the issue.

Thanks again! :waytogo:

 

[noridetoolow]

do you have a tow package harness for connecting trailer lights? If so pull it, replace the fuse and give it a shot, will most likely fix the issue, these things were highly problematic, and I had the same issue, as soon as I ditched the trailer wiring harness from the setup, problem solved

Yeah when reading about this type of issue 90% of them were related to the tow package wiring. My truck though does not have factory or aftermarket lighting for towing. And I too would have snatched it all anyway, whether it was causing a problem or not lol....thanks for the suggestion though :waytogo:

 

[noridetoolow]

You can find the inspection procedure for the lights-on warning system / integration relay at:

However ... I think this procedure only checks for the lights-on warning function, and not whether the relay is working in general.

Hmmmmmm......if thats the case then Ill need to source another unit to really test it for failure....junk yard trip!

 

[noridetoolow]

It could very well be the license plate lights. They're on the same sub-circuit as the tails and the front corners. :thinking:

Those are the ones cut and missing lol. Once i have this figured out I will wire some in but for now there is just the green and white wires poking out of the harness. And yeah I am making sure they are clear of any wires or anything else so I know they are not grounding out. Thanks

 

[noridetoolow]

Ugh! Unplugged the INTEGRATION RELAY and with it unplugged I'm still blowing the fuse! Pulled the aftermarket LED dome light, still blowing fuse (that was a long shot). Gonna have to dig some more but this is simply bizarre :/

 

[noridetoolow]

Ok sooooooo i decided to just cut the wires running to all lights from the fuse block since they have all been cut and crimped by a prior owner anyway. Follow this now because it gets interesting lol. Unplugged the drivers side corner to double check wire colors, green & white/black stripe. Said screw it and cut all but one of the white/black coming from the fuse block......missed one but no biggie. Placed a fuse in, turned on lights and fuse didn't blow! Whoohoo! So I walked around to see if any of the parking lights were on, none were and I remembered that the drivers corner was still unplugged. Turned off switch, plugged it in and reached for the switch.....turned it and truck tried to crank! Lol Keep in mind this is my light switch on the column.....now, these white/black are grounds. I noticed two going to the inner fender. So I guess I should have gone with the green wire but I thought the white/black would be easier to separate in the harness. All in all, even assuming the white/black are grounds going to other systems.....I think there is a problem when my drivers corner light is somehow completing the ignition circuit. Fun fun......looks like I'm going to have to tear through the entire harness and double check each and every wire which i really need to do anyway.

 

[noridetoolow]

I unplugged BN1 prior to the cutting of wires....no change. That's when i determined that there is a good possibility whoever spliced the wires crossed a couple of them. I really wanna go grab as much of another harness and fix all the wires. And no, aside from parking lights everything else seems to work great.

 

[noridetoolow]

What position was the ignition switch in when you re-plugged the corner light and the engine tried to crank?

The cranking started when you turned the headlight switch to 'park / marker' (not 'full headlight') position - right?

Keys were in the floorboard lol.....ignition off with no keys in it. And correct, at parking light, I didn't even turn it fully to headlights

 

[noridetoolow]

Ooops that's Columbus GA, lol. Ok well nice to at least know is the front now, I'll fix the wires I cut and focus on those three green wires. Got church tomorrow night so it will be Thursday night before I can do this. I'll look deeper into finding the three green wires in the mean time so I can narrow it down faster. And as y'all can see,
I'm Updating constantly

 

[noridetoolow]

Enola, what is this j9/j10 connector? I've noticed it on the schematic but have not tried to locate it yet. Thanks and I'm wondering if its the fuse box myself, it's been a lingering thought

 

[noridetoolow]

Dude!...the white/black is your ground circuits. By chopping those..you're creating all kinds of electrical gremlin issues. Re-connect all of them properly and concentrate on the three green wires I spoke of earlier. You're making this waaaay toooo difficult..and its NOT!

Errr...edit..you post tooo fast haha

I'm on my iPhone lol. Yeah I figured I made it worse by cutting what ended up being the grounds and I'll fix those before doing anything else. It's a mess of butt connectors that need to be fixed anyway. I'll solder and correctly insulate all the wires this weekend but wanna find the problem and fix it first. Probably relocate the fuse box to under the dash since there is a ton of room under there.

 

[noridetoolow]

The J9 / J10 connectors are the pair of large junction connectors located right at the engine bay fuse box. I'm not sure if they're inside or outside the fuse box itself.

Hmmmmm ok thanks. I'll have to check that out. From what I'm remembering, fuse block with thick loom of wires going straight to the lights up front, firewall, etc. I need a stock Tacoma to compare to lol

 

[noridetoolow]

My lighting harness appears to be 100% factory but it runs from each light on pass front to the drives side front and directly into the main harness. There is no junction box but since im in the US that sounds like it should be correct then right?

By the way, you guys are awesome! Thanks!!

 

[noridetoolow]

Good stuff, can't wait to get back on it. Thanks agian and I'll update assp

 

[noridetoolow]

Ok I hope one golly u r on lol. Started reconnecting the grounds i cut, I'm down to one last one that if i connect it it will blow the fuse, disconnected at least the drivers front light works and the tail lights but, when the truck is running and I turn on the lights, it kills the engine. I looked at all the wires and they all match color to color though I'm sure there might be a couple with the same colors that were crossed by whoever spliced this in. Should I proceed with hooking that last wire up and then following the green wires as we discussed or does it appear I have a different issue then one of the greens being bad somehow? The engine bay is pretty clean, not alot of clutter and so I doubt there are wiring issues elsewhere, I beleive it will be in this mess someone made which is only the primary harness off the fuse box. Thanks

 

[noridetoolow]

Here is the mess I am working with. These were all taped up when I got the truck. The red crimps with longer white wires are my fixed white/black grounds. And again don't worry, I'll have this all cleaned up better then stock once I figure this issue out.

 

[noridetoolow]

What exactly is this 'last one'? :shrug:

What does it connect to?

It's one of the random 6 or so white/black wires in the loom

 

[noridetoolow]

Ok the one still cut is one of the two grounds on the fender, other lead runs into the fuse box