I replaced the radio the other day (upgraded head unit) and now the tail lamps aren't working. The brake lights ARE, but when the headlights turn on, the dash and tail lamps do not. I dont know if they "went out" due to the radio installation (ive installed dozens of headunits) or due to the dash lights going out.

I replaced the fuse, and it blew again instantly. Somehow I created a short when installing the radio (probable theory). Is it because of the ground I had to make (since the wire harness had no ground)?

if so, where the hell do I ground it? Obviously it shorts out if I do.

The dash lights and tail lights have the same fuse. If your ground was bad the head unit wouldn't even turn on, unless it's loose. If you need to you can splice your ground into the ground on the factory wiring harness. You most likely have bare wires touching somewhere and that's blowing your fuse. Did you solder the wires and cover tehm or just use electrical tape? You should never use electrical tape. Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any more problems.

The dash lights and tail lights have the same fuse. If your ground was bad the head unit wouldn't even turn on, unless it's loose. If you need to you can splice your ground into the ground on the factory wiring harness. You most likely have bare wires touching somewhere and that's blowing your fuse. Did you solder the wires and cover tehm or just use electrical tape? You should never use electrical tape. Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any more problems.

thank you for the reply. I have already fixed the problem and then it happened again!

It was the dimmer switch initially. So I pulled it out and replaced the fuse and the taillights worked, but not the interior/dash lights. Thats fine, I didnt have a dimmer switch. Well, driving one night waiting for my new switch and BAM, they go out again! Put in the new switch and still broke.

just went outside and for the sake of arguement, pulled out the radio completely. Just harnesses and no wires loose. It is STILL shorting out! It has to be a loose wire off of the dimmer switch harness somewhere back in the dash...ya think?

I can't say for sure, but you never said how you connected the wires for the radio. did you solder them or just twist them together? is the wiring harness for the dimmer switch somewhere that it can touch the wiring harness for the radio? While it is very possible, it just doesn't make since that the dimmer switch shorted out when you replaced the radio. Pull out the radio and the dimmer switch (keep them connected to the harness) and replace the fuse. turn on your lights and wiggle the harnesses around, starting with the dimmer switch. Make sure the harnesses are not touching each other at any point. If your fuse blows while you're wiggling the harness, you've found which is causing the short. The next step is finding where it is.

thanks for the quick reply.

i figured out the problem. The culprit was the right side front marker lamp. The harness got ripped off (previous owner) and the two wires were touching. It just happened to be the first light in the circut of front markers, rear markers, tail lamps, dash lamps and maybe something else.

BUT, I still dont have my "chimes" for when my lights are on left on and the car is off and dont have my dome light. So, I think another fuse may be out but cant find it. In the Haynes manual, there is no circuit listed that just runs those missing functions.

i dont know what year you have but when my dome light went out, the fuse was under the hood.

i dont know what year you have but when my dome light went out, the fuse was under the hood.

I have a 94, well, the only fuse I could find burnt was the cig. lighter fuse. Didnt even realize it was out cause I dont use it. So I replaced that and still no dome light/chimes.

guess I'll try replacing the light but I dont think thats it.