hey guys, hate to drag you into my own problems but i need some help!

ive got a 92 toyota pickup. It was rear ended a while ago, about mid-march. two or three days after the rear ending, i noticed that the interior lights were out, later i noticed that the tail lights were out. the brake lights/signals were ok, just the standard running lights that stay on when the headlights are on. headlights are okay too.

anyway, long story short i found that the 15a fuse in the driver kick panel for tail lights was blown. replaced, blew immediatley when turning on lights, but noticed a half second of all lights looking good again. let it go for a month or so, had a new stereo put in. noticed after new stereo went in dash, lights were all normal again. stayed that way for 3 days till they died while i was driving <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

thus far, ive removed both tail light enclosures, and the fuse still blows. its the only one i have problems with.

i guess what im wondering is where could the problem be? i know enough about electrical circuits to fix the problem if i can find it, but ive got no damned clue how to find it, and im wasting huge pocketfuls of quarters on new 15A fuses to test with!

Help! its a ***** not having anything in the cab but a dome light, and i cant drive after dark anymore without rear lights! agghhh! i hate electrical problems!!


thanks for reading that huge explanation, btw.

You've got a couple ground points back in those fenders; check 'em out. They'd be similar to the ones in your front fenders inside the engine compartment, and the ground point above your fusebox at the driver's kick panel. Ground points might've gotten knocked loose and probably need a good cleaning once you locate them to tighten them down again.

thanks much man, ive found one of em right behind the bumper.. unfortunately the bumper was sent underneath the bed in the wreck, and getting to anything down there is a *****. going to go buy a hacksaw, then we'll try again.

also, found a little box back there that both tail light cables and trailer/license lighting cables go through, then it all runs up towards cab.. whats that little box? looks awfully nasty whatever it does.

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />Don't just look for bad grounds,you've got power wires running back there also.That bent sharp metal could be digging into a number of wires.You need a wiring diagram for your truck and trace those wires going to the back. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

its not a ground wire issue,,,,it can only be the hot feed grounging to the frame or the ground in loom.

ok, back finally.

have traced wiring as far up towards engine compartment as possible, no obvious shorts, rubbing spots etc. except for where the wiring is pinned between body/bumper.

my last two ideas before taking it to a shop somewhere(which id really hate to do, $$$):

1) check relay for tail lights. looking at wiring diagrams for 92 PU's thats the last thing in the failed circuit i havent looked at,, cause i dont know where it is

2) just cut the combination cable coming from the rear, spread the wires so there are no shorts at the cut site, and plug a new fuse in to see if it still blows. if it doesnt, i know my problem is that pinned cabling that is so tough to get to after wreck.

soo.. anymore ideas are greatly appreciated, especially location of that relay. and, if nothing else, good advice on taking it to someone else.
thanks for all your help thus far guys!

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />Can't you find a big enough crow bar and hammer to beat the crushed metal out of the way.Sounds like your problem is in that area.Good luck! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

That is the converter box for the trailer lights. Toyotas have seprate turn signals and brake lights, this converts them to one like american cars and trailers!!!! If it is smashed it could be shorting out. Or if you have not fixed the damage, there could be other wires that are cut and shorting. There is also a relay on the DS fuse panel thatcould be going south and shorting, it controls all the running lights!!!!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

this may help, look under your dash and look to see if anyone has ever hooked any wires up to your brakeswitch wire or the 12v going to that plug. the plug is located right above the brake pedal.. this can be a common problem if anyone has ever install a remote start system on your truck seeing how it uses that wire to kill the remote start when the brake is depressed. also check behind the dash where your dimmer switch is and your ing harness.. someone may have tapped into your light switch for a parking light wire for an alarm as well.. good luck

one more tip,,,instead of blowing fuses,,,add wires to a blown fuse and hook these up to a light bulb,,,it will light up when you have a load on it(this also means the regular lights) now go around and disconect everything that runs on that circuit(light bulbs etc) and shake the wire looms,,,,and see if you can get the light to go out,,,,this will help you find a problem in the loom faster.