Dash panel lights not working

Well after long research and searching in this forum I have to ask for some help. First off, its a 98 Eagle Talon, non turbo, 5 speed. I had a buddy install a stereo before it was stolen. Well while installing the deck he shorted the whole dash panel and center consul lights out. I have reset the battery and ECU. I also checked the fuses in both places, the driver's side kick panel and the under hood. None of them were blown. On top of it, the only light that comes up now is a red "SRS" light. The air bag has not been deployed and the steering wheel has not been removed. I have tried tracing the wiring back to where it all comes from, but after checking the fuses I have no idea.

Maybe he disconnected something and forgot to reconnect it. Or maybe one of the wires or harnesses were damaged in the install. check and make sure all connections are good. Or maybe get a test light to make sure you have current going to the lights.

All the connections are good and wiring harnesses are all ok. Im going to run a volt meter on the wires.

when i first got my talon i attempted to put in a cd player, the wiring harness that i used had two wires that were orange and i had no idea what they were for i assumed that they were for some other speaker or something so i just left it. dont know y but i did and when i started my car my dashlights went out so did the taillights i had no idea what happened so i checked the fuses and there was one popped under the hood so i replaced it and minutes later i could see smoke in my dash then there was fire i got it out with water then i checked to see what had happened and i found that the dimmer switch had caught a blaze and later i found that the two wires i neglected to tape off fused together and created a short and so i replaced the damaged dash parts and i also taped off the disaster.

so what i guess im telling u is that maybe u should check to see if there are any access wires or if there is then do something about them because that could be a problem i also found the fuse on the passenger side under the hood. good luck on that man.

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I will definately check that dimmer switch because it was acting up when i got the car. unfortunately i was hit, side on side, by a tahoe on the highway and now my car is at the body shop. i will check it as soon as i have the opportunity. thanks for the help.

Yeah I would definently check that switch cause the horror of the fire in the dash kept me in shock for a while. The switch might not be necessarily damaged but look for wires to it from the radio and from the fuse block under the hood maybe one of them is shorted. When u get a chance.

Did you use the main harness when installing the radio? You might need to run a wire straight from the battery. Most 2gs need it like that. If not, you get away lucky. I've installed a couple stereos in eclipses and talons, and they always come back with no inside lights and taillights.

And i didnt read the whole thing. There is no radio right now?

You dont need to run a wire from the battery. if you buy the proper wiring harness from some big box store and use the stock plugs you should be fine. just match up the colors on your deck. this is a prime examply as to why proper tools and proper way of doing things much be followed.

not sure if you did that, but that is what it souunds like.

Perhaps you used the proper one and there was an orange one and an orange with a white stripe, you may not need one of them, but yes one is the dimmer switch.