J30 Instrument panel lights has a short (no power)

[andre3718]

Good evening everyone. I am new to the post and I have to thank you all for the wealth of knowledge that I have gained while looking through the posts here. I am an avid Nissan lover and I am now on my second J30 (93J with 163k on the dash) She runs pretty well but since I am on the forum I am sure you all know I have a problem.
The instrument panel on the J will not light up at all this is including the ashtray in the front by the cigarette lighter (which actually does work)
The problem originally started I guess with a bad dimmer switch but while I was tracing the problem and testing for power to the swith I seem to have shorted something. I momentarily got signs of power and then nothing. I was able to confirm the short since the light in the ashtray (which previously worked) was now dead.
I have tried all the fuses and I have tried to do a trace o the wiring but that is a rather large task. I have not seen anything on this online at all.

Please if anyone has any idea where the power source is for this dimmer control so I can restore power to it. Is there a fuse a relay anything. Any help would be great. Hope I was not too long winded.

[J30inthe sun]

Did you replace the dimmer switch or bypass it? I am pretty sure it is a known issue with the solder cracking inside the switch on the earlier J30s.

[andre3718]

I have not yet replaced the switch. I was in the process and then got the short circuit. Now there is no power coming to the dimmer switch at all.

[andre3718]

What I am trying to do now is to restore power to the connector coming to the dimmer and then replace the faulty Dimmer switch. BTW thank you for the rather quick reply.

[fourdrinie]

I know you said you checked the fuses, but I would check across each fuse with a voltmeter to make sure the fuses are really good!

[andre3718]

I have taken all the puses from the kick panel by the drivers floor. They were all good.

[andre3718]

Gusy sorry Im adding a question to my own initial post. Does anyone have or know of a good mechanic in or around Lawrenceville GA for my J30?

[fourdrinie]

There was a recommended place called T3 in the Atlanta area that was fabulous for Infinitis....http://t3automotive.com/