previa dash lights sudden death?

Question

My 1991 Previa has a ground short in the right rear brake light which caused "wig wag", I soldered the culprit ground wire to the bulb socket ground and this finally solved the problem of the brake light on the back rear not working when you step on the brake.

However now all the Dashboard illumination is totally gone, all the other instrument panel lights are fine and come on when you turn the key, but the Dash illumination is gone.

Might I have blown the dimmer wheel/switch? I have read here on the forum about Toyota "rheostats", does this refer to the dimmer wheel? When I had a problem with wig wag before I also had a problem with the cruise control not functioning, I guess I need to check if that's happening again.

Anyone ever have all their Previa dash lights fail when dealing with other electrical issues?

Thanks

Will

Gordo · Answer

Dash lights are usually on the same circuit as the tail lights.  Do theywork?   I suspect the fuse blew during the brake light short or repair.

Ray O · Answer

What is "wig wag?"A rheostat varies voltage.  The dimmer wheel to the left of the steering column is a rheostat.  Assuming that you have tried adjusting the dimmer, have you checked the fuses and checked to see if you have voltage at the rheostat?

Will · Answer

repair.

Thanks. They didn't blow out during the repair, as I checked and all was working after working on the parking lamp problem. But sure enough I had no tail lights last night either, and it was in fact a blown tail light fuse.

I just wish I knew why it happened though, as now I am wondering there is another shoe waiting to drop.

Will

Ray O · Answer

If you are periodically and randomly blowing fuses, you probably have a short to ground, most likely due to a cut or nick in the insulation. Check out the insulation on any wires you touched while chasing down the tail light problem, beginning with the wire you soldered.

Will · Answer

Thanks Ray.

Wig wag is an inspection station term, where if you step on the brakes on the bad side the inside light lights up instead of the brake light. Wigs when it should wag.

Or something like that.

Will

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