No dash lights

[Krueger]

I recently just hooked up a cd player to my car. I turned the car on to see if everything was working and it was, but then i turned my lights on and the headlights turned on and tail lights but i have no dash lights. No speedo lights, no lights on anything except the CD player.. Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[Deezy]

Check fuse #30 under the dash.....Look over wiring again, make sure the orange/white wire is NOT hooked up...

 

[Krueger]

fuse 30 is fine, checked it multiple times, ill check orange wire.

 

[Krueger]

fuse is fine and no orange white wire is hooked up. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Deezy]

Pop the dimmer switch out and jump the red and black wires together....If your dash lights now work, then your dimmer switch is bad...replace it or jump the red and black wires together permanently...

 

[xWIREMANx]

I think Deezy was right before about a blown fuse. It may have not been the fuse he specified but a fuse none the less since it happened after the radio install. Check them all with a meter. The ones inside and under the hood. Most likely you accidently shorted out the illumination wire behind the radio. Even if only for a brief moment it would have blown the fuse.

 

[Krueger]

Pop the dimmer switch out and jump the red and black wires together....If your dash lights now work, then your dimmer switch is bad...replace it or jump the red and black wires together permanently...

I did this and the lights worked, but then the fuse blew again?

 

[Deezy]

Most likely you accidently shorted out the illumination wire behind the radio. Even if only for a brief moment it would have blown the fuse.

x2.....Disconnect all illumination/dimmer wiring from radio....

 

[Krueger]

x2.....Disconnect all illumination/dimmer wiring from radio....

All disconnected already. I hooked up the red and black wire together as stated above and it worked for awhile, i clicked it on and off a few times and it was fine. then i did it once while i was driving and it blew the fuse.

 

[Deezy]

^^Most likely, you have an open in the red/black wire going to the radio....

 

[Krueger]

Not quite sure what you mean?

 

[xWIREMANx]

Did you tape or cap off the illumination wire behind the radio to make sure it doesn't have any chance of touching any metal? Did you replace the fuse with one of the correct amp rating? This just seem like too much of a coincidence not to be the illumination wire behind the radio.

 

[Krueger]

Ha to be honest i dont remember, ill have to check, pretty sure i taped them off and i know i put the correct fuse in.

 

[Krueger]

all wires are taped off with no possible way to short. lights wont come on now. put the red and black together and they still wont...??? but they did before when i tried it until i blew the fuse again. I had one wire showing that probably shorted it the second time but now no way i try it will work.

 

[Krueger]

anyone?

 

[xWIREMANx]

The only thing I can say is break out the volt meter. Turn the key to the on position and put your black lead to ground. Use the red lead to test both tabs on every fuse in the car inside and under the hood. Every fuse should read the same on both tabs. For example if one side says 12volts then the other side should say the same. If it doesn't then pull the fuse and replace it with a new one. You should be able to visually see if it is bad when you pull it out. I can't stress enough how important it is to check every fuse. A seemingly non related fuse may be related electrically in some way causing no power where you need it. If everthing is good then you will have to start tracing down the wires for the lights to make sure none are melted and shorting. Also you can check the headlight switch for proper function and check all your parking light bulbs including the liscense plate lights to make sure they are in correctly and there is no water in the housings. Can't think of much else without saying take it to a shop.

 

[Krueger]

Thanks. will do

 

[aznwilson]

Try checking other related fuses!
My trunk light, interior light and cigarette lighter all didn't work until I found out the right fuse.

 

[Krueger]

checked every fuse in that damn car. all are fine...

 

[Krueger]

Is there some kind of kit or can i just rig up some lights behind the dash to fix this so i can read my gauges.