Notices
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners 2nd/3rd gen pickups, and 1st/2nd gen 4Runners with IFS
Old 03-30-2016, 10:57 AM
How-Tos on this Topic
Last edit by: IB Advertising
See related guides and technical advice from our community experts:Browse all: Toyota Tacoma Lighting Guides
Print Wikipost

interior dome light problem

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 02-16-2009 | 05:54 PM
  #1  
taylordog2's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: central point Oregon
interior dome light problem

the light in my truck isn't working. the thing is i have no idea why, the fuse and the bulb are still good...does anyone have any ideas?
Old 02-16-2009 | 06:09 PM
  #2  
RobD's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,243
Likes: 4
From: Calgary, AB
Put a meter on it. Check the socket for power. My guess is your door pin switch has bitten the dust.
Old 02-16-2009 | 06:16 PM
  #3  
taylordog2's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: central point Oregon
alright i'll go do that real quick and let you know what i find.
Old 02-16-2009 | 06:17 PM
  #4  
xzyragon's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 596
Likes: 0
From: LA
is it plugged in?

xD... well, ive never had problems with mine. Might be a problem with wiring. Did it just all the sudden go out, or did u just realize after trying to use it once that it didn't work?
Old 02-16-2009 | 06:18 PM
  #5  
Yodaforce's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 407
Likes: 0
From: West NC
I have always had contact problems with mine, so I hung a little flashlight from it. Eventually I will get a late model with two lights built into the rearview.
Old 02-16-2009 | 06:21 PM
  #6  
taylordog2's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: central point Oregon
Originally Posted by xzyragon
is it plugged in?

xD... well, ive never had problems with mine. Might be a problem with wiring. Did it just all the sudden go out, or did u just realize after trying to use it once that it didn't work?
funny thing is is that i actually didn't realize that it didn't work until like a week ago lol but yeah i'm going to go test it real quick.
Old 02-16-2009 | 06:28 PM
  #7  
taylordog2's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: central point Oregon
just tested it and theres no power running through the bulb...and the fuse is good...hmmm would the door pin switch keep it from turning on period??
Old 02-16-2009 | 06:30 PM
  #8  
bigt's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,278
Likes: 2
From: chippawa niagara falls ontario
no you should be able to turn it to on i would think.. i bet there is a short in the wire or maybe it melted..maybe try and find out what else is on the circuit and see if they work... is that the only thing that doesnt work?
Old 02-16-2009 | 07:10 PM
  #9  
taylordog2's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: central point Oregon
there is the interior light, inspection light socket, ignition switch light, and the clock are on the circuit.
Old 02-16-2009 | 07:22 PM
  #10  
Jay351's Avatar
Contributing Member
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,055
Likes: 9
From: maple ridge, British Columbia, Canada
My door switch would get sticky and stick off. It would appear to be out all the way, I just pushed it in and out with my finger a few times (...LOL) and it was good.
Old 02-16-2009 | 07:30 PM
  #11  
4Crawler's Avatar
Contributing Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 10,817
Likes: 31
From: SF Bay Area, CA
Dome light should have constant power to it (from the dome light fuse: http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/4R_TechI...tml#Electrical) and the door switch grounds it to turn it on. Also if you turn the dome light on manually that switch also grounds it. If there is no power to the light socket, find out why. Could be a bad fuse or wire up the a-pillar. Or if someone did a hack job on the seat belt reminder buzzer, that can also kill the dome light as those two things are often tied together.
Old 02-16-2009 | 08:59 PM
  #12  
RobD's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,243
Likes: 4
From: Calgary, AB
I'd look at the door pin. My driver side one sticks sometimes and my passenger side one doesn't work at all.
Old 02-17-2009 | 09:28 PM
  #13  
taylordog2's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: central point Oregon
Originally Posted by 4Crawler
Dome light should have constant power to it (from the dome light fuse: http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/4R_TechI...tml#Electrical) and the door switch grounds it to turn it on. Also if you turn the dome light on manually that switch also grounds it. If there is no power to the light socket, find out why. Could be a bad fuse or wire up the a-pillar. Or if someone did a hack job on the seat belt reminder buzzer, that can also kill the dome light as those two things are often tied together.
you just solved my problem! the seat belt wire was cut from the previous owner and i didn't think that it mattered so i unplugged the wire and i don't remember where i put it....that poses a problem to get the light working...any ways around the seat belt wire??
Old 02-17-2009 | 11:55 PM
  #14  
taylordog2's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: central point Oregon
Does anyone have that plug with the wires still attached that they would sell me? How much? Zip code is 97502.
Old 02-18-2009 | 06:24 AM
  #15  
4Crawler's Avatar
Contributing Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 10,817
Likes: 31
From: SF Bay Area, CA
Not sure of the exact fix, but there is a wire from the seat belt reminder relay over to the door switch on the driver's side that probably has something to do with that. Check out the wiring diagram in a Factory Service Manual.
Old 02-18-2009 | 09:29 PM
  #16  
taylordog2's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: central point Oregon
alright i'll see if i can't find one, then look into my wiring...thats a mess...the previous owner hacked that up!
Old 04-26-2015 | 08:51 AM
  #17  
vennemannh's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
I have a 1995 Toyota 4runner I have recently put in a new car radio and now my dome lights do not work can you please help me out
Old 04-26-2015 | 08:55 AM
  #18  
vennemannh's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
[QUOTE=vennemannh;52269698]I have a 1995 Toyota 4runner I have recently put in a new car radio and now my dome lights do not work can you please help me out.all the bulbs are still good
Old 04-26-2015 | 09:17 AM
  #19  
4Crawler's Avatar
Contributing Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 10,817
Likes: 31
From: SF Bay Area, CA
Originally Posted by vennemannh
I have a 1995 Toyota 4runner I have recently put in a new car radio and now my dome lights do not work can you please help me out
Try disconnecting the radio temporarily and see if the dome light works. And check out the dome light socket, should be constant 12v power on one side then the door or dome light switch grounds the other side to turn the light on. So either the 12v is not getting up there or the ground connection is not good.
Old 06-15-2015 | 11:34 AM
  #20  
bgordon45's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Carbondale, CO
I've had intermittent dome light issues for a while.

With a multimeter I traced the problem to the switch itself. I have good power to the switch. I checked the resistance between the circuits on the switch and found that electricity is not running completing the circuit. The rivets that connect the switch to the contact points for the bulb are causing the problem. I tried adding solder to those points but it didn't stick well (I did a poor job).

I'm over trying to revive it. I'd previously put in an LED bulb to help with the light and it helped a bit. I'm going to install a 3W LED bolt light (or 2) into the dome light cover.

http://www.oznium.com/led-bolt

I may be able to wire it to the factory switch - if not I'll put in a little switch on the plate. Have it on order. I'll do a little write up when I get it together


Quick Reply: interior dome light problem



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 07:38 AM.