ISSUE: Installed Ditch Lights, now Clock and Radio backlight turns off when headlights are on.

Hi All,

I just installed a pair of Baja Designs Squadron Sports using the wiring harness that came with the lights. I wired them up to one of the square OEM type switches purchased from Rago Fabrications. Lights work with no issues, and do not affect anything when I turn them on. BUT, when my headlights turn on, my entire Stereo Head Units becomes dark (but continues to play music), the Clock built into the center of the dash (I have a 2nd gen) goes dark, and the air conditioning/heater display also goes dark. Everything works with the backlighting off, just cant see anything. I checked the dimmer switch already and of course that isn't the problem.

I am guessing I may have blown a fuse, and will start working on investigating that route. If anyone has seen this before and knows the answer I would really appreciate the help. This was my first time doing electrical in a LONG time, so not really surprised I messed something up =/

Happy to post pics of whatever if it will help.

Thanks!

 

I definitely tapped something wrong.. I used the one of the wires on the Tow Haul switch, which seems to have a constant voltage, so the button is constantly lit instead of when headlights are turned on... I removed the T Tap to this wire believing this was clearly the issue as well, but did not change anything once removed. Maybe I could try removing and disconnecting the battery hoping everything will reset..? I'll go snag a picture too. But as mentioned, definitely did not connect to the Dash Light Circuit which I believe is a light blue wire ..=/

 

Pictures of what I did

 

Power is run straight from battery. I can try twisting together, but I think I could achieve the same result by just un tapping the tow haul and leaving that wire just dangling.. then only 1/2 button will light up... but good enough for diagnostics.. everything else now is self contained, didn’t tap into anything else and the problem persists

 

thanks for the help and time!

I just tried unhooking the battery waiting for a minute and re-connecting.. issue persisted.. I tried again and actually removed the ditch light connections from the battery as well so it was completely removed from the trucks electrical circuit and the problem still persisted... I now have everything re-connected except for the T Tap I had initially plugged into the tow haul and of course issue is still happening =\....

Headlights off:


Headlights on:

 

Ahh that was a good idea! I had pulled the t tap completely off, but not inspected the original wire... in looking at it, it seems undamaged and tow haul is working.. but now that I am looking it does seem the backlighting isn’t working for any of my standard switches either when the headlights are turned on... I’ll peel the wire open a bit and confirm it’s intact

 

Wire is intact, was able to tap into it where it enters the back of the switch and confirmed voltage was still present on the wire =/

 

Since the whole backlighting circuit appears to not be working is there a possible fuse or something else...

 

thinking the same things... I’ll check them and see if something blew

 

Don’t think it’s a fuse....

 

I had a very similar issue on my 2020 Platinum after installing the anytime back up camera kit...all back lights come on except my radio buttons (“menu”, “audio”, “map”, etc)...the climate control back lights work, and even the new camera switch has back lights, but yet the radio doesn’t...still haven’t figured it out!

 

I have found this from internet scavenging:





now this might not be exact as it is pretty dated. But seems very accurate to the problem at hand.. anybody know anything about this combo pin?

 

I've had that connector out when I put in my speedometer calibrator - it's not that hard to get to, but I don't know that you'll have a ton of room to work with when you get back there... I only pulled it apart the one time. Looks the same for late models, so I'd imagine you're onto something. Good luck!

 

Also, when I installed my Cali Raised kit, it had the same style button and the red/orange wires were twisted together and butt connected to the illumination lead from the light harness.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4MXEJpedrM&feature=youtu.be

At the 3:40 mark(ish) he talks about using the red wire closest to the black to tap into the factory dimming line... I can't quite tell from the angle of your pic, but it looks like you may have used the other one and back-fed from the harness.

 

I definitely watched this exact video and a number of others haha.. Yes I did tap the red wire closest to the black, but I believe I tried the other wire first, but I also hooked up the lead to the battery at the very end to try and make sure I didn't do anything silly like this.... Who knows, clearly I angered the electrical system though.

Thank you for the help!

 

What did I get myself into???

 

So @TRDFerguson pin 37 on this bad boy is what we’re were talking about?

 

Yep that looks like the one.

 

Me a couple weeks ago trying to track down one shorted wire. Get ‘er done Colin, you have a trip to go on in a couple of days!!!

 

Looks like this is the wire For the next fellow that has to deal with this:

 

hahah nice! Ya, trying to get it handled before kids get home haha.

like my copilot?!

 

any suggestions on how to tap into this pin?? Can I just use a t tap on the wire and then connect to the ground?? I ask because this is what I tried and had no luck..

I really am pretty green when it comes to electrical

 

Did you end up checking all the fuses and your other operational lights? From this thread, check Park and Tail first... https://www.tundras.com/threads/ill...-control-no-longer-illuminate-at-night.30751/

While your symptoms line up with the TundraTalk post, maybe it was simpler..?

 

I have had success using Posi-taps. Especially for the smaller wire gauges.

Best luck!