Topic: '94 Toyota pickup electrical problem.....need help

[Bulldawg901]

I bought this truck because my current job has me offroad on a daily basis.  Whenever I get in a slippery situation, whether it be mud or ice..etc., and I put the truck in reverse to back up, if my tires spin then my gauge cluster fuse will blow.  Like clock work it only does it in reverse, and the majority of the time my tires have to break loose (i.e. spin) but it has done it without them spinning.  This wouldn't be that big of a deal but since I am in mud every freaking day, I replace the fuse about twice a day. Any suggestions would be wonderful

[scheid6996]

man thats fd up, there must B a bare wire that is in ur dash, and when ur truck goes backwards, it grounds out, blowing ur fuse, it must B something like that, bc thair is no electrical stuff that changes when the tires slip,  let me kno how it turns out or if u have any q's

[Plowking]

Last I knew the gauge light fused was tied into the running lights, I would start by checking your bulbs for clear contact, making sure they are the correct bulbs, get an ohm meter and check for shorts,  or bare wires contacting ground (with battery disconnected), start with reverse circuit, something is drawing the amps and rocking your fuse ( try disconnecting your reverse pickup wire on trans and put the truck in reverse see what happens)


Good Luck

[lilbuddy]

I was about to say what Plowking said to do.

 ( try disconnecting your reverse pickup wire on trans and put the truck in reverse see what happens)

Weird thing about that is that my tach on my 81 is completely messed up and reads 2250 RPM at idle (WHEN it is not) and when I put it in reverse, it reads normal.. Very weird.. Im sure thats got to be pretty annoying.

[Plowking]

Referring to
<Weird thing about that is that my tach on my 81 is completely messed up and reads 2250 RPM at idle (WHEN it is not) and when I put it in reverse, it reads normal.. Very weird..>
Check your cluster out it may have a ground problem

[lilbuddy]

I dont really care. It works on occasion. When i do ground it to a different place, it still doesnt work. POS. Im about to say all hell with it and just buy an external one. If I get bored I will try grounding it to a diff place though... It works when the window wipres are on too. Its old so I dont really care too much. I know where my RPMs are at

[Plowking]

 Dosent stop it from going thats all that matters.I bought an msd 6 series and did the tach adaptor, added quite a bit of spark, and has worked trouble free for 5+ years

[scheid6996]

hey maybe the reverse lights are shorting out, so when u put it into reverse it takes out ur running lights

[Bulldawg901 [OP]]

thanks for all the help, i haven't thought about checking the bulbs.   Like I said earlier it wouldn't be that big of a deal but since my speedometer and fuel gauge goes out it makes driving difficult when I get back on the road.  Thanks again and I will look at all that is suggested

[FATB0Y]

I was thinking that it might be in the reverse lights also . But 94 IS the first year with an electronic spedo. it may have something to do w/ the spedo trying to go backwards (even though it isn't supposed to.)