1991 Surf Odd Electrical Condition

[LummoxPG]

Ok here's an odd condition and hopefully someone will be able to give me a clue as to where to start...my beloved 1991 hilux / surf ssr has picked up a curious electrical gremlin...when I depress the windshield washer fluid button on the column stick...the dash lights go out...and when I release the button...the dash lights come back on. Weird huh...

[bags]

I feel your pain, I love my 1kz and ongoing maintenance fills more and more spare time. I would start with the stalk the button is on and ensure that the insulation on the wires is sound. I wouldn't mind betting that some wiring has rubbed on something allowing current to pass through poor insulation when the button is depressed completing a circuit and causing a short. remember the button is on a moving part(wiper stalk) which also means wear and tare. the exposed wire is probably shorting the dash lights when the fluid is despensed. I would go to a parts wrecker and just get a replacement wpier stalk, $25.