Instrument Panel Lights Out

[mattlord42]

Hey Guys-

I just swapped out the old POS aftermarket stereo in my car for a newer nicer one. All that I did was cut the harness on the stereo end. Anyway, my instrument panel lights don't come on when I turn on my headlights now. The clock backlight still works though. Anyone have any idea what happened and how to fix it? I searched but couldn't find anything. Oh yeah, I have a 1990 Hatchback.

Thanks for your time,Matt Lord

Edit: By stereo I mean head-unit.

[Josh]

I don't have an answer for you, but I have a similar problem. Since I bought my car the instrument panel lights wont work when my car is cold. In the spring and summer this isnt a problem, but in the winter, it can be. I can let my car warm up, or drive for about ten minutes and then they'll cut on. The same happened with my speedo (it was digital w/HUD) until it actually died back in June.

I'm thinking I'm just gonna have to replace it, what do you all think?

[mattlord42]

Okay so I just found out from one of our friendly police officers that my taillights aren't working either. They light up when I hit the brakes but not when I just turn on the lights. Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks again,Matt

[Antjaw]

I assume you have checked your fuses...You could have grounded a wire accidentaly while cutting the harness.

[mattlord42]

Yeah I cjecked my fuses... tomorrow i will check all of my grounds. Unitl tehn does anyone else havce any ideas? Sorry for any speelling errors I am pretty damn drunk right now.

Matt

[1991240xs]

specifically check the fuse for your taillights...sounds like a short..if it is..it'll just blow the new fuse when you cut on the tail lights....try checking the dimmer wire and telling me how you hooked it up...if you have grounded or anything just cut it and tape it off..you shouldn't do anyhting with this wire unless of course you really want your cd player to dim(but who really cares about that)~

[gruntzz]

The first place I look now if I have a lighting issue is the light control switch on the steering column. It is a simple switch mechanism but with years of use it builds up carbon and the contacts don't get a signal. What you have to do is take out the switch arm (pretty easy), pull off the thin plastic cover over the switch contacts, get some fine grit sandpaper and run it inbetween the contacts where they touch together. Use some bulb grease inbetween the contacts to prevent further carbon buildup and better contact. This solved my high beam problem my dashlights/tail lights problem. Buying a used switch from the junkyard or eBay gets someone elses # of years of use buildup... a new one by the way $103.50

[Calvin]

Make sure the ground wire coming out of the new head unit is connected directly to the car body. Shifter-boot bolts and back-support bolts are both convenient places to attach the ground wire. (Scape the paint for a good connection.)

You will have at least one wire left unused in the car's harness. This is the "dimmer" wire, sometimes called the "lighting ground". Aftermarket head units use their own intelligent electronic dimming mechanisms, and therefore should NOT be connected to the "dimmer" wire.

[S13240]

Go do a search on Freshalloy...they had a thread about dead dashlights and dead tail lights a couple months ago.