Very weird electrical problem

TRDSport · #1 (**permalink**) 12-02-2006, 02:29 PM

Okay, I have a 2000 Tundra AC that I have owned for about 2mo. now. Ever since I bought it, the buttons that control the cargo lamp and emergency flashers have not lite up. However, a few weeks ago I was towing a trailer for a friend at night and the buttons were lite up but once I disconnected the trailer, the buttons were not lite up. I'm going to try to hook up to my neighbors trailer soon to see what happens. Any ideas on what may be wrong? I am a novice so if there are any wires you want me to check, be VERY specific as to where they are and how to get to them. Thanks for the help.

Flashgordon · #2 (**permalink**) 12-02-2006, 04:03 PM

USMC, since they only (the buttons themselves) illuminate when a trailer electrical plug is connected, I'd check the wiring where the trailer wiring meets the truck wiring.
Just follow the trailer socket wiring (at the back of the truck) to the wiring harness. Don't know if it's just a plug and pigtail wires that's inline or if it's hard wired.
A place to start....

Good luck!

TRDSport · #3 (**permalink**) 12-03-2006, 02:39 AM

Update:
Having a trailer hooked up has nothing to do with the problem. I was driving home tonight and noticed they were working but when I drove the truck again a little while later, they were not on. So, in a bit of frustration, I hit the dash and they came on. I'm guessing there's a wire that isn't fully connected in the back somewhere.

Big_Al1 · #4 (**permalink**) 12-03-2006, 10:00 AM

Could be corrosion on connections.good luck

rambrush · #5 (**permalink**) 12-03-2006, 04:36 PM

Loose Ground back there?

rizico · #6 (**permalink**) 12-07-2006, 09:12 PM

If you are lucky, it might just be the plug behind your elctronics bezel, you can check this by taking of the bezel, and wiggling the plug plugged into those two buttons, if it flickers that's your problem. If that's the problem, then first thing I would do is just un-plug, and plug it in a few times (about 10) to clean the pins. If that doesn't work, the cheap thing to do is take some duct tape, wrap it around the back of the plug (Where the wires enter) and back to the back of the bezel so it is under constant pressure, that might work. The Bezel is taken off as follows:
1)roll back the two vents in the bezel, look closely and there is a phillips head screw on the upper side of each one, thats (2) screws
2)take off the three A/C control knobs, there is a screw behind each, thats (3) screws
3)Pull lightly on the bezel and it will snap off.
4) reverse to put it back on.

Hope this helps!

TRDSport · #7 (**permalink**) 12-07-2006, 11:05 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll finally have some time tomorrow to play around with it and hopefully figure it out.