Resolved dash lights don't work; need help

[1990AWD]

I was installing a cheap boost gauge and trying to wire the backlight. I tried following the vfaq instructions, but it doesn't tell you what wires on the gauge itself you connect to the dimmer switch. Anyways, I tried hooking it up but the switch started smoking. I quickly unhooked the gauge but now I have no dash lights at all. I checked the fuses and replaced the switch but they still don't work. Does anyone have any ideas that will work without having to tear the dash apart?

 

[tsi1991awd]

ALL of your dash lights don't work? If the fuses are good and the switch is good, the bulbs could have burned out. Kind of unlikely, but you never know.

I don't really understand how all of this would have happened. There has to be something else to the story

 

[ntdsmr87]

yea like he said maybe the bulbs.......u could of had too much current in the wire and melted it my money would b on a shorted wire test it with a volt meter if no voltage is there follow it down u ###### jus have a open somewhere along the wire through there......idk but im pretty sure some of the fuses in the fuse box or fuses that are in series with the fuse box are slowblows so if you have a high current in them the fuse could not blow and the wire melt or short its ###### that wire.......... or the switch check that wire or wires and see if they are melted at all

 

[tsi1991awd]

I still don't understand what the hell he would be doing in order to cause this to happen.....must have really cut the wrong wire with the key in the ON position in the ignition....

 

[etay89]

very possibly, you may have caused a short. that short may have blown all the bulbs. one time, installing my headunit, i tapped the wrong wire, i blew out my headlights, tail lights, reverse lights, and corner/turn signal lights.

from what i heard/read, replacing the bulbs ARENT of extreme difficulty..and I actually plan on replacing my bulbs too

 

[1990AWD]

well since I got the car, the dash lights have never come on with the normal light switch on the steering column. I would just turn the dimmer switch on and off for the dash lights to work. I don't know if that has a lot to do with it or not. I'll check the fuses again but which wires of the three at the dimmer switch should have power/no power?

 

[ReYnd]

RRE VDO Boost Gauge Installation Instructions

Look at the end of the 1G section to see how it should be wired. The worst thing you should be able to do is get the polarity wrong and have the boost gauge's light get brighter when you dim the rest of them.

 

[1990AWD]

RRE VDO Boost Gauge Installation Instructions

Look at the end of the 1G section to see how it should be wired. The worst thing you should be able to do is get the polarity wrong and have the boost gauge's light get brighter when you dim the rest of them.

if I read it right, that boost gauge only has two wires for the light, positive & negative. mine has three, battery, accesory, and ground.

 

[tsi1991awd]

Dude, which boost gauge did you buy for starters. Maybe your problem lies in "I bought a CHEAP boost gauge"....

I bought Prosport Gauges from MachV and they work just fine. There is a constant 12v, a ground, and two other hookups if you want amber/white light. It's simple.

 

[ReYnd]

I've never seen one with three wires. Prosports apparently have them though.
Here's a link concerning an install using the dimmer switch like you did, though again it's a 2-wire gauge. I'd say the 12v wire is there to change the color of the light on the gauge. Ignore it and follow that article, see what happens. Then if you want the other color, splice the 12v into the same accessory wire. Connecting that wire to a constant 12v source would just keep it lit all the time.

If your fuses are okay and the circuit is complete, at least that gauge should light. You probably blew the bulbs in the cluster, and maybe your headlights, or whatever else was tied into the circuit.

 

[luv2rallye]

well since I got the car, the dash lights have never come on with the normal light switch on the steering column. I would just turn the dimmer switch on and off for the dash lights to work. I don't know if that has a lot to do with it or not. I'll check the fuses again but which wires of the three at the dimmer switch should have power/no power?

Your dimmer is toast. The green-white wire is +12v, the black is ground, and the black-yellow is the negative side of the dash bulbs - that is if you haven't melted them yet. The dash bulbs are connected between the green-white and black-yellow. This is where you normally would connect your boost gauge light also. However too many loads on the dimmer (or if you hooked it up wrong) will blow it (1 extra load shouldn't).

To test if your dash lights work, unplug the dimmer and connect the black-yellow to black (or to ground). The lights should go on full intensity with the taillights being on. If you don't want to replace the dimmer you can leave it this way (no dimming however). The boost light can then be connected between the green-white and black (or ground), again no dimming.

 

[1990AWD]

I checked the fuse for the tail lights under the hood and it was blown so I changed it and now it all works. I always thought it was under the fuse labled gauges under the dash; oh well. I got my boost gauge lit, and all is good. Thanks for all the help guys. RESOLVED.

 

[miliman13]

I checked the fuse for the tail lights under the hood and it was blown so I changed it and now it all works. I always thought it was under the fuse labled gauges under the dash; oh well. I got my boost gauge lit, and all is good. Thanks for all the help guys. RESOLVED.

Savior!!