Grounding locations

Does anyone have a wiring diagram that shows the ground locations on the vehicle?

I have a wiring diagram, but it isnt showing where on the vehicle the grounds are actually located.

I'm having an issue with my Turd gen and I need find the ground location for the rear brake lights, stop light switch and possibly the ECM. I keep blowing the STOP light fuse in the engine bay, not allowing me to start the push button normally or shifting outta park without the override.

I've checked rear brake lights (havent checked the cab brake light) replaced the stop light fuse (multiple times) and relay, stop light switch. Checked the rear for rubbed wires, disconnected the trailer harness and code (1426) is still there.


So any ground locations besides the obvious (body in engine bay ground, and the under kick panel ground) would sure be appreciated



Grounding Locations listed in this thread ( Pictures if located)

- Rear, Drivers side, top of the frame rail just inside of the left rear tire near the upper shock mount (BK is ground location)




- Drivers side Kick panel
- Passenger side kick panel
- Drivers side Battery ground to body

 

There's a ground behind both kick panels.
There's one on top of the frame rail just inside of the left rear tire near the upper shock mount.
Those are the only three I know of that might help.

 

Thank you, Ill update the OP with with grounding locations.

Ill run through them later today. Ill tighten them all down, just to make sure. Just from visual inspection, appears the back rear over shock is in place. I have not tried testing it yet tho.

 

If you are blowing fuses, it sounds like something is shorting out rather than a grounding issue. What electrical mods have been done?

 

None. other than fog lights from BD, plugged into my front bumper (Which I know isnt the cause). If it was shorting I think the issue would be intermittent, instead of straight blowing the fuse.

 

At what point does it blow the fuse? Like immediately when you start the truck, only when you hit the brakes, or when you turn on the lights?

You mentioned you checked the rear brake lights, did you replace all the bulbs? That is a cheap and easy thing to try.

Usually (and I stress the "usually"), a bad ground results in things not working at all or working intermittently, not blowing fuses. Fuses blow because more amps are going through them than they are rated for, which *usually* means something is shorting to ground on the circuit somewhere. I'm doing some digging to see if I have a wiring diagram.

 

I didnt replace the rear brake lights. I did visually inspect them and they appeared to be fine. Filaments intact, no burning or anything.

 

I had a reverse light that went out, got a replacement and the original one looked perfect, but no workie. I haven't found the 3rd gen docs, but I have 2nd gen docs and a lot of the chassis wiring is similar. Here are the ground points for the 2nd gen:

 

Stop Light circuits for 2nd gen. Based on your codes, I would think 3rd gen is similar since the Skid Control ECU is mixed in here.

 

Is the triangle surrounding "BD" listed as grounds? If so, maybe checking under the front seat cross member left hand (assuming driver side) would make sense, as its not a normally visual ground location

 

Yes, those are grounds and correspond to the locations listed in the previous post (and conveniently printed on the diagram as well). BA looks like it serves the center stop lamp.

 

You get it sorted out yet?

 

Hell no, I'm not gonna have time to get to it till next week.

I did visually check the ground on the rear frame, and the front driver side kick panel. Those seem fine (like arent loose in any way)

I just inspected the passenger side kick panel ground. Appears normal, isnt loose. I cant seem to locate the one under the passenger side seat. Will check further.

 

I can't think of a situation where a factory ground would have anything to do with a short blowing a fuse.

If you answer the questions asked in this thread there will probably be more helpful suggestions.

 

Bringing this thread up from the grave as it seems like I'm fighting the "BD" ground for my tail light assemblies. I've seen claims of the ground being near the rear diff along with being near the rear shock mount. But when I walk the wiring bundle from the rear toward the front, I don't see anything that appears to come out of the looming to the frame.

In my case, I'm dealing with a 2002 extra cab Tacoma TRD.

I'm getting ready to just use a circuit 'tap' fitting and creating my own ground.

 

Is the passenger side kick panel factory ground a robust enough ground connection for a house battery that is pumping 25 amps?