95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners 4th gen pickups and 3rd gen 4Runners

3rd Gen tailgate courtesy light not working

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Old 11-28-2007 | 05:51 AM
  #1  
lclascaris's Avatar
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3rd Gen tailgate courtesy light not working

The courtesy light for when the tailgate is open doesn't work on my 1996 3rd Gen Hilux Surf (4Runner). It works fine if I switch it on manually but not automatically when the tailgate is opened.........it might work 1 in 50 times of opening the tailgate.

I have looked for a courtesy light switch & I cannot find one. Does anyone know if there is a switch or maybe it's built in with the latch???

Your help would be appreciated.

Many Thanks

Regards

Lewis
Old 11-28-2007 | 07:09 AM
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BajaRunner's Avatar
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From: 5th Gen San Diegan, California
Yep, same problem here. I haven't really looked into it much though.
Old 11-28-2007 | 08:04 AM
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The switch is inside the tailagte, not exactly sure where though. The manual for my 01 shows it just to the driver side of the license plate, that would be passenger side on your side of the pond.
Old 11-28-2007 | 04:05 PM
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Same issue here... Mine is intermittent. Usually works when I don't specifically need it. I've been inside the rear-tailgate covers when I had to extract broken license plate bolts, but didn't look for the switch.

Hasn't bugged me enough to want to dive back in there.... Might bug me enough to step up to a GX470 tho... with it's silly side-opening Mom-friendly tailgate... I'm really pining for more luxury lately.
Old 11-29-2007 | 01:03 AM
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lclascaris's Avatar
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Originally Posted by eric-the-red
The switch is inside the tailagte, not exactly sure where though. The manual for my 01 shows it just to the driver side of the license plate, that would be passenger side on your side of the pond.
Surly the switch should be visibly?

It must have some sort of contact to operate the lamp, so it knows when the tailgate is in an open or closed position?

Old 11-29-2007 | 01:17 AM
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I think it grounds through the latch. I greased my latch and held the handle while closing it and letting it kinda bounce open. It freed something cause it has been working fine for a year.
Old 11-29-2007 | 10:06 AM
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Get a can of spray silocone and hose down the latch area at the baes of the jiftgate. That is where the switch is located. I did this about two years ago and it solved my problems. Dirt just builds up and makes the micro switch stick.
Old 11-29-2007 | 10:57 AM
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It's part of the rear door latch. The contacts are internal to the latch.
Old 11-29-2007 | 12:45 PM
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echooooo....echo...echooo
Old 12-02-2007 | 08:38 PM
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From: Lake Stevens, Washington
Mine still doesn't work..bah humbug and I tried WD40 and silicone, it didn't remedy mine..oh well.
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