'93 Metro electrical question:

[automan9482]

I recently acquired a 93 Metro LSi 4 dr. 1.0L A/T.
The car needed TLC, but is in great shape mechanically/physically, + it gets 36/40 MPG! One of its issues was in the past it had been broken into, and had the stereo ripped off. A previous owner had tried to correct concurrent electrical problems, like the heater fan, by splicing wires all over the place. I wound up replacing the lower dash wiring harness, which fixed most of its ills, but I hit a snag in the process.
As I was hooking up the factory stereo harness, two of the wires touched and shorted. I don't know which wires touched, but the fuse for the dome light blew WHEN THIS happened.
After replacing the fuse, the dome light works, but I noticed none of the instrument panel light were working.
No other fuses are blown, and neither are any relays under the hood.
I unhooked the dash light dimmer switch and connected a jumper cable, thinking maybe the rheostat had been shorted out, but it did not work. ( Still no dash lights )
I've looked over the wiring schematic in the shop manual, but am at a total loss as what to look at or try now.
One other thing that is pertinent: The stereo and stereo display works, but when I turn on the headlights the display goes blank.

ANY THOUGHTS????

[Mike_Van]

Dash light bulbs in tact?

The stereo display dimming when headlights are turned on is, indeed, symptomatic of deeper circuit overload condition or some odd wiring shortcuts the previous owner made. I'd check for corrosion at the NEG battery post. Also inspect the fattest POS wire connection to the fuse-box under the dash. Corrosion could impede the circuit in question from getting the full juice it expects.