dash tail and marker lights don't work

[DESTROYEDINSIDE]

I have been working on this for a week now and yes I have read through all the threads here and followed other peoples advice and still no luck.

90 Eagle Talon AWD TSI

Bought the car about a month ago and the guy a bought if from took out the stereo and left the wires uncovered and they grounded out so now I have no dash lights, no tail lights and no marker lights. I have installed a stereo since then and dont have the dimmer and illumination going anywhere.

I do have brake lights, head lights and reverse lights.

HERE IS WHAT I HAVE CHECKED SO FAR AND AM NOW STUMPED

Ok so I checked every fuse 3 times in the kick panel and under the hood with a test light. Every fuse is good. I swapped tail relays to make sure the relay is working and it is so I tried bypassing the dimmer and I got nothing so I checked it with a test light and got nothing. Now im not sure if I can test it with a test light or if I need an multimeter. Anyways I seem to have no power to the dimmer switch and I checked the dimmer and illumination to the radio with a test light and got nothing, but again I used a test light not a multimeter. I tore out the dash to get to the wiring but am not sure where to go from here. I am not sure where the dimmer gets its power from.

QUESTIONS

Could it be a burnt bulb
Could it be a bad relay somewhere else
Could I have not tested the dimmer switch right

 

[93ETGOCART]

it could be a bad relay but id be searching for why there isnt any power to the dimmer. did u check your fuses with the test light or one of those fuse checkers?

 

[DESTROYEDINSIDE]

I used a test light. I triple checked all the fuses in the kick panel and under the hood im positive its not a fuse.

 

[93ETGOCART]

just for my peace of mind did you check both sides of the fuses or just one. they could have power coming in but not going out

 

[1997_GSX]

This happened when my tail light fuse blew because of my marker light being ripped off in the snow.

 

[DESTROYEDINSIDE]

Ya I checked both sides of all the fuses, all are still good. And I swapped relays for the tail relay. I don't have any power to the dimmer switch or the dimmer and illumination to the radio. I am just stumped because there are no blown fuses and thats why I don't think it is a short.

 

[MrCii]

i had the same issue in mine... but mine was a short in the illum wire to the radio causing the fuse under the hood to blow

 

[DESTROYEDINSIDE]

Ya every thread I have read say the same thing. I have checked all the fuses especially the tail fuse many times and also swapped out the tail relay to make sure but nothing. So with no blown fuses I don't think I have a short anywhere.

I pulled the dash and all the connectors going down by the driver fuse box and checked all the pins with a test light and only about 3 or 4 pins lit up so I think something is wrong there.

What are all the relays and 12v under the dash next to the steering column, would any of those be a problem.