Dash on when headlights off/Dash off when head lights on

[Xion]

Whats up guys,
I just purchased my first Infiniti QX4(2001)today and everything in its running perfect except when the head lights are set to off my dash is illuminated but when i turn them on(auto-manual)my dash lights turn off and is completely blacked out.I do know how to work my way around cars(rebuilt plenty of mazdas from ground up)but i have no idea where to start on this car,just need someone to point me in the right direction on how to fix this problem,thank you.

[Chunky Chef]

did you accidently hit the dimmer switch, in the pathfinder it is to the left of the steering wheel below the side mirror controls. made this mistake and couldn't figure out what was happening for a good 2 days. Is that the problem?

[Xion]

No thats not it,its like its working in reverse.Dash is illuminated when head lights are set to off but if i put the head lights on(whether its on auto or set manually)my dash blacks out and i have no lights.Electrical problem or fubar relay?

[Towncivilian]

Check the "TAIL" fuse behind the driver coin tray.

[Xion]

Fuse is intact,you think it could be a defective multipurpose switch or maybe the dimmer switch?

[Towncivilian]

Swap the "TAIL" relay with another one of the same color, see if that changes anything.

[Xion]

Ok so when I pull the tail fuse everything works(no tail lights)but when I put it back in it doesn't work again

[Towncivilian]

The tail fuse controls most interior lighting, license plate lights, and front side marker lights in addition to the rear tail lights (not brake lights). If all the other stuff is working when that fuse is pulled, you've got some weird electrical gremlins.

Have you tried swapping relays as I said?

[Xion]

Ok it got it,the idiot that had it before me wired some gay led floor lights that piggy backed off some wires(dimmer included)in turn it was shorting stuff out but a half hour later of messing around with crap I got them to work properly.thank you guys for trying to help me I appreciate it.

[Towncivilian]

Glad to hear you've fixed the problem.

Welcome to NICO, by the way! Download a copy of the factory service manual if you haven't yet. To save a copy of the FSM, right click -> Save As on every PDF, and save them into a single folder.