I'm using my parents 4runner for a week while mine gets worked on and I'm trying to fix a few little things on it.

Any how the radio doesn't light up at night (stock cd/tape system). Is there a fuse somewhere that controls this or is it the wiring causing the problem?

 

Yes there is a fuse. I can't remember which one, but the same thing happened on my wife's '00 4Runner - all radio lights went dead. Replaced the fuse and all the lights worked great again.

However, a few weeks later, the radio lights started flickering at night. (Very annoying.) Called the Dealer and they said the only thing they could do was remove the radio and send it off to get it fixed. They said that was an internal issue and could not be resolved very easily. Minimum charge was going to be $300 to fix it they said.

So instead, I searched around this forum and found a member who had replaced his oem radio w/ an aftermarket unit and was willing to sell me his oem HU for $25.00. Bought it a year ago, only took a few minutes to install and it's still going strong today.

But again to answer your question, yes there is a fuse that controls the radio lights.

 

You wouldn't happen to know which one it is. I've looked on the fuse panel but it doesn't list the radio on the label.



It seems that the some of the radio's toyota has used have been crap. The stock 3 disc I had in my 4runner crapped out on me a week after I got it.

 

I can't remember for sure. It's either a fuse in the engine compartment or the one under the dash.

I'll look when I get off from work and see if I can find it again...unless someone else who remembers where it is chimes in.

If you can't wait, you could always just start pulling fuses until you find the blown one.

 

I looked on my '02 4Runner (wife's out at the moment w/ her '00), and there's a 15a fuse in the engine compartment fuse block that controls the dome lights, dash lights and radio lights. Although, I would think if this fuse is blown, the dome and dash lights would be out too.

You might also want to check your manual and look at the fuse blocks in there to see what they all control.

If all your fuses check out fine, it's time to get a another radio. I assume if this is the case, you will want to stay OEM correct? If so, the good news is, these HUs can be found cheap on many toyota forums and ebay alike. You'll just have to search around until you find the right model. Good luck

 

I look at the fuse tomorrow.Thanks

 

You could always do this, it's a 2005 Scion--sounds way better than stock.
There is a ton of used Toyota stereos out there for cheap!

 

I had the same problem with my radio. It started about three months ago when the light started going out briefly every now and then. Then it started flickering on and off to the point where I had to turn it off at night because it was so distracting. It eventually got to the point where I had to memorize the feel of the buttons at night to change stations or songs, but then I just gave up and finally bought a new one. To sum it up, you're probably not going to be able to fix it unless you take it apart and find out where the short is.

 

Does that Scion deck have a green display and buttons?
I keep finding blue ones.

 

No, it has orange like the newer 4Runner's and Tacoma's. I believe the '06's had a color changing option although they are more repair prone.

 

if not will it work for a 95

 

that appears to be an early third gen runner.96 - 98

 

im very new to the page but i put my battery in backwards in the middle of a snow storm in my 00 4runner now it wont start im hoping its a blown fuse i can replace not my whole computer system.