Dash lights

[chevyg2092]

My dash lights wont stay on. I replaced the fuse and am still having problems. Advice?

[97Bird]

Was the fuse blown?

[chevyg2092]

yes the fuse was blown. replaced instrument panel a few days ago and only change was trip started to work. My odometer still does not work and dash lights come on and are dim then get brighter and then shut off. This is a real pain at night when u cant see how fast u are going.

[97Bird]

Did you have this problem before you changed the instrument panel? Is the panel you put in from the same year car?

[chevyg2092]

Yes I had the problem before the instrument panel. Panel is from same year car. Maybe the dimmer switch is bad. I have no idea. The aggravating thing is that they work for a min and then it goes off.

[97Bird]

Do you have auto on/ delayed exit lamps and what year car is it? There are other lights connected to the same fuse. I'd disconnect the dash panel lights at the dash panel connector and see if the fuse still blows. A wiring diagram can be found by going to the second page of the Tech help thread and looking for my post about repair info (post #21).

[chevyg2092]

I do have delayed exit lamps but i am not sure that is the problem. i have this dimmer thing i got off another car. i edited a pic to get it to look like the part. i am hoping this is not the problem. The pics are after and before. Respectively. The other switch on the right is a auto lamp.

[97Bird]

Did you try my advise about disconnecting the dash panel lights? What year is the car?

[chevyg2092]

yes. its a 96

[ricebike]

Originally Posted by 97Bird

Do you have auto on/ delayed exit lamps and what year car is it? There are other lights connected to the same fuse. I'd disconnect the dash panel lights at the dash panel connector and see if the fuse still blows. A wiring diagram can be found by going to the second page of the Tech help thread and looking for my post about repair info (post #21).

this........

he's trying to isolate your problem

but my guess since the part you replaced already didn't fix it will be a wiring problem something in the circuit has rubbed off the plastic covering of a wire & is shorting out

[97Bird]

Originally Posted by chevyg2092

yes. its a 96

Well, what happened?! Did you look at the wiring diagram for your year car to see what else is on that circuit? Do the other lights in the circuit start off dim and then brighten like the dash lights? Disconnect each light or load, one at a time, until the fuse doesn't blow. When the fuse doesn't blow then you've found where to start looking for the problem.

Correct ricebike. You disconnect one piece of the circuit at a time to narrow down which part of the circuit, including wiring, has the problem.

[chevyg2092]

i haven't had the time to find it but i am thinking of dropping it at a friends house who is a mechanic to see of he can figure it out. its too involved for me.

[97Bird]

Sorry to hear it's to involved for you. At least you tried! Let us know what the outcome is. Good luck.