Blown tail light fuse

Help !
On my 2000 toyota tundra limited, my instrument panel illumination went out. Since its an old vehicle, I thought, well let me change the bulbs in the panel to LED . I know that may not have been the initial problem because all bulbs couldn't go out all at once. Now, when I turn the headlights on, the tail light fuse blows. If I just replace the fuse and not turn the headlights on, I have rear brake lights, turn signal, and back up lights like normal. So what's blowing the fuse when I turn the headlights on ??
Help !!

 

I hope you're not another victim of water leaking into the fusebox from the a-pillar or lower windshield corner.

LEDs are polarized and only install one way; are you sure polarity is correct on all of them? Have you tried to revert back to your old bulbs just to rule that out as the cause?

 

Yes, I removed all of them and replaced with the old bulbs, but fuse still blew !

 

Have you done any other work? Changed headlight or tail light housings? Changed headlight bulbs, tail light bulbs, or fog light bulbs, anything? Have you removed and reinstalled any of those housings recently? When you had your cluster out, did you futz with the ground or any other cabling attached? Are you sure you pushed in all associated harnesses fully?

 

Check your trailer wiring harness if you have one as well.

 

This happened on my 05 when I hooked up a trailer that had LED lights and it caused a fuse to pop.
The fuse was under the dash, I can’t remember what it was labeled, but it was something to the affect of dash or cluster, or tail.
Pretty sure it was a 15a. But this was years ago.
Something like that. Sorry not much, but I’d start under the dash.

 

Update ! I changed the headlight/turn signal switch on the column and again, it blew the 15 amp tail light fuse under the dash. What else do I need to check ? There's a small light dimmer switch knob on the left hand where my fog light switch is. Could that effect my tail lights ?

 

I'd guess the dimmer switch is dash illumination, maybe it is the problem..

Is it when you turn just the headlights on, and/or when you turn the parking light and dash illumination on that the tail fuse blows?


Maybe the light control switch?





Your dash illumination is also on the tail light fuse circuit.
Perhaps whatever made them go out in the first place is what the problem is now..




Your stop lights are on a separate fuse, so do they still work when the tail fuse blows?

 

When I turn the light switch on, the 15 amp. Tail light blows. When I replace the fuse, but leave the light switch off, I have stop, turn signal, and back up lights working fine. Once the switch is turn on, the tail light fuse blows.
I replaced the signal /headlight switch , to no avail.
The stop/turn signals/ back up lights do not work once the fuse has blown.

 

Just a shot in the dark, you could try unplugging your dash dimmer switch and see if that makes a difference.
Being your dash lights started all this, there must be a short in that circuit somewhere that completes when you turn the lights on.

When you first had the dash light issue, was it just the dash or all interior lights like the radio, ashtray, fog light switch, and cigarette lighter illumination?
They are all controlled by the dash dimmer switch.

I'm surprised the brake lights go out as they are on a separate circuit.

The only thing I can find that has a connection to all the lights you have an issue with is the INTEGRATION RELAY.
But I have no idea if that would be your problem..

 

Do you have anything plugged into the trailer plug?
The fuse popping was an issue with a poorly grounded trailer.

 

I'll give that a try. One day, all of a sudden my dash lights went out. All other items you mention do work, cigarette lighter, radio, ect... What's weird is when the headlight switch is off, the tail lights do work when I brake, back up or put on turn signals. Once the headlight switch is turned to the on position, it blows the 15 amp fuse and tail lights no longer operate, or turn signals, ect....

 

It wasn't that 'do those items work', but did they still illuminate at night with the parking lights on while the dash lights are out?
Just trying to narrow down if was the actual dash lights, or something on the dash light circuit..

When the tail light fuse blows do the headlights work?

 

When the parking lights are on, I have headlights but the tail lights are not illuminated, till I push on the brake, then they do come on or I put the truck in reverse , the back up lights do illuminate and the turn signals do illuminate.
Once I turn the headlight switch on, the fuse blows and my tail lights do go out.

 

Also, I pulled both tail light assemblies to examine to see if there were any frayed wires or signs of grounding out, and there was nothing. I checked all the light sockets as well. All seemed normal.

 

Just tossing it out there because it's happened to a few folks here. Check for water intrustion into the in-dash fusebox inside the cab (pics and more pics) for examples taken from this thread over here. I tend to agree w/@1lowlife, it's worth checking.

 

Here's the problem to my dilema . The wire harness got pinched between the bed of the truck and the frame, which in time wore through the insulation. See pic .
Thanks to all for your input on trying to help. You all are awesome !
Now its a matter of cutting and splicing, probably have to get more wire to do the repairs. I take it that I can purchase that wire at any local automotive store ?
What an ordeal that was ! Live and learn.

 

Bummer, but also a relief, because water intrustion into the fusebox is a bitch. Just weird this came up now, just after swapping those bulbs.

I think if you were skilled enough with an iron, you could toss some heatshrink on lines needing repair, solder it up, then dielectric grease before sealing the heatshrink, and re-wrap with electrical tape. I see a couple different wire gauges there, you'll want to stick with what gauges you've got.

 

Duely noted !
I will do just that.
I'm appreciative of all the input I've recieved.
Thank you for yours. I will take heed and match the gage of wiring.