(Home) Where'd my lights go

I have a Toyota Lite Ace 1991 model with a standard AM radio in it after many years the AM radio had to go.
I pulled the plug out the back of the factory AM radio and chopped the wires I needed for the new stereo and everything went fine..... That was until I tried my head lights and the lights on the dash are no more? Any ideas... I have checked the fuses as well as the left over wires from the AM radio to see if they needed a charge or ground but still no dash lights. OUCH.

- (#11644) Dion, 10 Nov 03 15:35

You've lost an earth somewhere, remember, the Japs switch the earth on most things, not the live, so somewhere you have disturbed the earth for the light switch I suspect. I had a similar incident when I had the CAT 1 alarm professionally???? fitted, the radio would stay on after ignition off, but would then turn off & stay off if I switched on the lights, so there is a definite link between the two earths.

Regards Rob.

- (#11645) Rob Drinkwater, 10 Nov 03 15:41

HMMMM seems a possibility there is two Earths from the old stereo. Correct me if im wrong but should I just try to ground each one individually?

- (#11646) Dion, 10 Nov 03 15:55

I can hardly believe the coincidence - swapped out my standard AM radio this week and just realised today that the dashboard lights have disappeared!

Haven't had chance to look at it again yet, but I remember there were a couple of wires 'left over' after I replaced the stereo which I just terminated and tucked away. I guess I've broken the earth circuit for the dashboard lights. I'll hopefully get chance to look at it properly tomorrow (with a meter instead of 'guessing') and will post results.

Thinking about it, my stereo is now lit up all the time, which it shouldn't be - only when the headlights are on .... definitely sounds like I've crossed something over here .....

- (#11647) Kev Buckle, 12 Nov 03 2:53