1998 blazer dash lights/brake lights

[mattblazer55]

I am having a strange problem. My 1998 S-10 Blazer's dash lights are not working, more specificly the lights that illuminate the dash. The high beam indicator, gear indicator, etc are working. The lights that illuminate the fan switch and heater/defrost/ac/etc controls are not working either. I checked all the obvious things like fuses and the switch that brightens/dims the dash lights. Also i dont know if its related but the same time the dash lights quit working the brake lights quit working as well. Tail lights/turn signals all work, just not brake lights Any help is appreciated

[blazes9395]

First and formost, check your fuses. If you manually turn on your parking/headlights, do the background lights now work?

[mattblazer55]

Thank you for the reply, yes i did check the fuses they were all good. And no, even if i manually turn on the lights the background lights dont work. I am thinking it might be a wiring problem, or maybee a bad ground, i just dont know where to start

[old_master]

The instrument illumination circuit gets its power from the tail light circuit. If the tail light fuse is popped, the dash lights will not work. Check all of the fuses with a test light, both terminals, and don't forget to turn the tail lights on before checking the instrument illumination fuse.

[mattblazer55]

got the dash lights working!! a wire from my stereo for the light illuminator was grounding out. But my brake lights are still not working. The fuse for the brake lights is good, and it even tests out good with a dc volts meter. I was looking at the actuator box thing by the brake pedal. not sure if maybee that is the problem. how do i test that. Any idea how much a new one is if that is the problem?

[old_master]

Do the turn signals work, front and rear? (turn signals and brake lamps use the same filament in the bulb on 1998 S/T body.)

[ericn1300]

Originally Posted by mattblazer55

I was looking at the actuator box thing by the brake pedal. not sure if maybee that is the problem. how do i test that. Any idea how much a new one is if that is the problem?

under $10, if its not the problem put the old one back in and take the new one back for a refund.

[mattblazer55]

yes the turn signals work in both front and rear both sides. Ill try the actuator box thing if its only like 10 bucks. If its not that it must be somewhere in the wiring between there and the lights themselves. I cant find a wiring diagram and am not sure where the wiring is even ran in my blazer, down the center of the interior maybee? just a guess