2001 QX4 No Running Lights, only brake lights

[sixty4]

I was pulled over a couple of days ago because I did not have any running lights. I do however have brake lights. I went to the store this AM and picked up one bulb but that did not seem to be the issue. My only other option is a fuse but it's not clear to me which one. Any suggestions?

[Qxxx4]

yeah that happened to me before, its your TAIL fuse in the engine compartment fuse box. theres another fuse under the left side of your steering wheel thats for STOP, third brake light and brakes i believe.

[sixty4]

I'll take a look tomorrow, I am very concerned about this as I cannot drive at night!

[sixty4]

I replaced a switch up front in the engine bay drivers side called "Tail Lights" and I am still not getting any running lights. I put new bulbs in as well. Anyone have any other suggestions?

[02pathy]

probably a short somewhere as a long shot take out ur housing and with ur lights on pull on the wires a lil to see if ne thing happens, look for signs of corrosion or moisture at conection point use a test light to see if u r getting power back there

[sixty4]

Well still no luck with the rear lights, I did move the wires around and still noting. I do have a tow bar wired and installed, aftermarket but it has been on there for 2 years. I am considering disconnecting it to see if that is the issue.

I picked up one of those touch wire testers, I wasn't sure if its working so I may need to get the pointing kind with the terminals leads.

Any other suggestions, or this has to go to the dealer I suppose?

[Qxxx4]

dont go to a dealer just yet. Have you physically taken the tail-light out and checked wires? Im not sure if the 2001+ has corner lamps but if it does, do those work? have you tried changing the tail-light relay? If its like my 99 there should be another fuse for the tail-light wiring on the fuse panel on the inside of the vehicle, mine was next to my steering wheel. Its got to be something up front since BOTH dont work. I really doubt the tow wiring would be your issue if its been there that long, but anything is worth trying, its always the dumbest things, the dealer just wont tell you that!

Also, the bulbs your using...are they the correct wattage....well if they follow the 1156/1157 standard then they should be. Definately take that voltmeter and test the sockets.

[Chuck Tribolet]

According to the FSM, the tail lights are run by the tail light replay. It also runs the parking lights and license plate light. It's in the engine compartment, left(US driver's) side. It the relay farthest after and in the row closest to the outsideof the truck.

Do the parking lights and license plate light work? If not, I'd be thinking thetail light relay. If they do work, it's NOT the relay.

[sixty4]

Qxxx4,

So far I have done the following:

1. Changed one the bulbs to make sure they were ok. 2. Ordered and replaced a (Blue Topped) TAIL light switch/relay that was in a panel box under the hood in the engine bay just under the windshield.3. Removed both lights and check the wiring.

Is there another BLUE topped switch/relay that I am missing and my actual fuse box behind the change pocket thing does not appear to have any fuses that could be the issue. Am I missing something?

Chuck,

I will check again, I am now wondering if I switched out the wrong fuse. My truck is at home so I can later this evening.

[Qxxx4]

there are TWO fuses for that brake circuit, I also thought it was just one and couldnt figure out why my running rear lights didnt work, then i found a second fuse relating to stop/tail and that was blown....look carefully. If the 01's are like mine, theres a fuse box next to your leg under steering wheel and another fuse box under the hood opposite side of the relay box

[sixty4]

Q and Chuck thanks I got it. My issue was the passengers side fuse marked TAIL. I found a broken 10AMP fuse, replaced it and it blew immediately again. I put in a 20AMP, is this ok? It is working now though.

Per your messages which were not sinking in I did find that there are 3 pieces that make a tail light work.

1. The Fuse Box, a fuse labeled in the cabin, in my 2001 its behind the change drawer to the left side of the stearing wheel, left knee level. The fuse is a 10AMP marked STOP LAMP. (This was not my issue)



2. A second fuse box/relay/switch combo box located on the passengers side about mid way down the engine. The fuse is a 10G marked TAIL



3. A relay/switch located on the drivers side toward the windshield with several switches in it. One is labeled TAIL LAMP. Now here don't make the mistake I did, test this one last. I even "could have" taken the one marked FR FOG disabling my fog lights to test the TAIL LAMP. They appear to be the same model.

[Qxxx4]

20A should be fine, i figured it would have to be one of those fuses as the same thing happened to me

[Chuck Tribolet]

TAKE THAT 20A FUSE OUT. NOW. BEFORE YOU BURN DOWN YOUR TRUCK.

Fuse size is determined by wire size. A 20A fuse means 12 ga wire, which isREALLY heavy. Cars today have wire that's JUST big enough. That keepsthe weight down and helps them pass the economy test. That wire is probably16 ga. 20 amps will get it really hot. You have some kind of a light weightshort to ground.

And those are "relays" not "switches". Switches are activated by a human orsome mechanical widget. Relays are activated by electricity.

The tail lights (and parking and license plate) lights share one circuit. Thestop (brake) lights have an almost completely separate circuit. The only thingthe two circuits share is a common connection to ground, which happensinside the bulb, or just outside it (depends on the bulb type).

[sixty4]

Chuck Tribolet

Hmmm I see so your saying I need to track the short down that has caused me to burn up two 10A fuses? And, I suppose your saying I need to put a 10A back in to replace it...

[JVH78]

I know this is an old post but its the closest I have found to what I am looking for in essence. I have a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder and I keep blowing my running taillight fuse, usually happens more often when it rains(big clue) But sometimes when its dry. I did just what the one guy suggested for this guys QX4 putting a 20A in. ...worked great.....until I smelled burning plastic .....which brings me to my question, basically It melted a nice bit in the fuse box thing, What I need to know is the Actual name for this part, and/or a part number, because I definitely need to replace it. The gentleman in this thread posted a pic of it, it is the second fuse box pic, it is located on passenger side , under the hood. Any help would be greatly appreciated because my junkyard I go to currently does not have any pathfinders or QX4s or I would have yanked the part and replaced it. Are there any other Models, years etc that have the same parts? Also how would I go about tracing the short if there is in fact one? Thank you for any assistance.

[Towncivilian]

Welcome to NICO.

Could you post a picture of the exact part you need a replacement for?

Never use a higher-than-rated fuse anywhere. It could cause an electrical fire, burn up your wiring, and melt things as you've experienced. Check for frayed or damaged wiring in the exterior lights (front combination lamps, rear brake lamps, license plate lamps).