Hi,

I posted a few days ago about my 1988 caprice in which the courtesy/clk fuse kept blowing. I found the problem was a harness going to the back of the radio. I disconnected the faulty harness and another harness going to the radio. After re assembling the radio and leaving the 2 harnesses disconnected, i just realized that i now have no instrument panel lights!! the fuse for the instrument panel is good. I am guessing one if not both of the radio wiring harnesses must be re connected in order for the instrument panel lights to work. Could someone confirmed this for me? I didn't know that a wiring harness for the radio could also affect the instrument panel

I would appreciate any help given

Thank you,

Vinnie

I've been looking at my shop manual for my '85 caprice and it appears as though the CTSY/CLK fuse is not needed for the instrument panel lights -- therefore one or both of the harnesses are likely needed for power to go to the instrument panel printed circuit. The Tail Fuse (tail lights fuse) is needed for the Inst/Lps fuse but not the Ctsy/Clk. The harness with several gray wires is likely the one that you need. The Ctsy/Clk fuse may be needed for the trunk-light-open indicator on the inst. panel (if you have that option on your Caprice). Also, if you disconnected any grounds that may also affect the instrument panel lights.

Keep in mind that your '88 is probably a little bit different from my '85 so although similar it may not be the same.

Good luck.

Hi,

I posted a few days ago about my 1988 caprice in which the courtesy/clk fuse kept blowing. I found the problem was a harness going to the back of the radio. I disconnected the faulty harness and another harness going to the radio. After re assembling the radio and leaving the 2 harnesses disconnected, i just realized that i now have no instrument panel lights!! the fuse for the instrument panel is good. I am guessing one if not both of the radio wiring harnesses must be re connected in order for the instrument panel lights to work. Could someone confirmed this for me? I didn't know that a wiring harness for the radio could also affect the instrument panel

I would appreciate any help given

Thank you,

Vinnie

the instrument panel Lt circuit normally goes to the radio.. confirm that you have volts there...confirm with a meter, fuse is good..
another possiblity would be the dash LT dimmer//see if there is volts there.

on a 1984 camaro the dimmer was/is controlled by a transistor in the relay board...had to go to scrap yard for that part...short circuit in the wire next to hump mounted radio///razor metal cut into it..GM crap..

Thank you caffeineaholic and j caT for your responses!! The tail light fuse was the problem. It was no good. I didn't even know that the tail light fuse had anything to do with the instrument panel lights. After reading the response from Caffeineaholic I checked to see if I had tail lights this morning before I left for work. I found out that I didn't so i replaced the fuse and everything is fine. I didn't even realize that i had been driving to work the last 2 days with no tail lights.

anyway, thanks again to both of you and I really am grateful for all of your help and thanks to who ever started this very helpful forum!!!

Peace,

Vinnie

Thank you caffeineaholic and j caT for your responses!! The tail light fuse was the problem. It was no good. I didn't even know that the tail light fuse had anything to do with the instrument panel lights. After reading the response from Caffeineaholic I checked to see if I had tail lights this morning before I left for work. I found out that I didn't so i replaced the fuse and everything is fine. I didn't even realize that i had been driving to work the last 2 days with no tail lights.

anyway, thanks again to both of you and I really am grateful for all of your help and thanks to who ever started this very helpful forum!!!

Peace,

Vinnie

fuses don't just blow !!!! BE PREPARED FOR MORE TROUBLE.

You're welcome vinnievv. And I agree with j cAT: you need to find the source of the problem sooner or later -- fuses shouldn't just blow unless if there is a problem with the circuit.