Hello, I just took the top off of my 1989 4runner (1st gen) and now the tail gatelight is on.How do I turn it off? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I dont know which light your talking about. The only light on the tail gate is the license plate light, which comes on with the parking/head lights. The next closest light is the cargo bay light, which has its own switch on the dash, and comes on with the park/head lights as well.


Wait...do you mean the tail gate indicator light in the dash? If so, it shouldnt come on just because the top is off. It comes on if the tail gate is not shut all the way. Take the tail gate down, and shut it a few times to see if it goes out. If not, you probably have a bad switch.

I am sorry it is the dash light for the tail gate . The light would come on when I would I would roll down the back window then open and close the tail gate. The light would go off when I started to roll the back window up (about 2" or so).

I'd take it apart and look at the switch. Might be misaligned, or need replaced.

Thank you , is it part of the latch ?

Is the tailgate locked? If not, lock it, and then it will be off.

When the light would turn off about 2" into rolling the window up, it was triggering the lock, forcing it all the way down. I would think that if locking it by hand doesn't fix the light, you need to go into the tailgate and clean everything real well. It could be a sticking lock linkage.

I opened up the tail gate and cleaned every thing as you suggested and .... whala it is now off . Thank you so very much . <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />