Dash lights out

[FATHERnSON]

So I just put in all new audio equipment and when I buttoned it all up the dash lights don't work. Everything works audio wise headlights high beams the little center panel with the check engine light and stuff works, but my speedometer tachometer fuel level etc. Aren't on. Any ideas before I go tearing back into my system??? It's an 08 3.0

 

[black_demon69]

did you have cluster out? if so did it get plugged back in? maybe fuse ?

 

[dvdswan]

Or accidently turned the dimmer knob down.

 

[RonD]

Fuse 1 in cab fuse box powers the cluster back lights, 5amp

Blue/white wire comes out of Dimmer and runs to cluster and radio for back lights
If you mis-wired radio's blue/white wire you may have shorted this circuit and blew the fuse when you activated the lights

The clusters gauges use cab fuses 9, 10 and 33, check those, no connection to radio on these
Cluster also has 2 ground wires, but unless you disconnected grounds behind dash those shouldn't be the issue



When working on any electrics in a vehicle its always a good idea to disconnect one of the battery cables, radio wiring does have "live wires" they have power all the time, not just with key on.

 

[FATHERnSON]

I will check the fuses... It is not the dimmer switch... I didn't take the cluster out but I wouldn't be surprised if I bumped it. I'll let you guys know what I find...

 

[19Walt93]

Check where the radio ground is attached. Audio shops forever would check for a ground with a test light and connect the radio ground to dash light power.

 

[Shadowrider6661]

Welcome to the club.

 

[FATHERnSON]

I have the entire dash out and I cannot for the life of me find why the lights aren't getting power. Does anyone know how many live wires are supposed to be in the head/dash lights switch??? I have two live and five others; two of the five go hot when switch is turned on but three don't.