Tail lights and dash lights out [Merged 4-7]

[blkbrd1988]

I would check all the fuses that have anything to do with all the interior and exterior lights, you should also check the "room" fuse under the hood. my dimmer switch went out and the only thing that stopped working were the instrument cluster and HVAC so it shouldnt be that. if its none of those things check all of your lights (ashtray,cig lighter most likely) if one of those are out replace it.

 

[ndilo21]

Check the fuse under the hood labeled TAIL. I had the same problem but this fuse kept blowing for me. The problem was that the green/white wire in the radio harness was grounded and it cannot be. I don't know if you have a stock deck or not but you might want to check this wire as well.

 

[blkbrd1988]

ndilo21: is that green/white wire supposed to be hooked up anything?
and what about the black/yellow one?? the wiring is so screwed up in my car I dont even know if its repairable sadly my dash lights dont work and all of my fuses are good but I think my dimmer switch is burnt up.

dynatos: how much would a new dimmer switch run me??

 

[dynatos]

i think i was quoted $70 or so.. hence why the $4 replacement transistor was much more my taste

 

[halik008]

thanks for the info guys, really appreciated. I'm gonna look into it tomorrow afternoon

I'm not sure about the cig lighter but all other lights work properly. I'm still sporting the stock deck so spliced wires should not be an issue. It's also why i mentioned that the background lights don't also light up

halik

 

[evolvingGS-t]

Do your lights go out when you push on the brake? If so, you might want to check out your battery or alternator.

 

[halik008]

Do your lights go out when you push on the brake? If so, you might want to check out your battery or alternator.

i'm guessing you mean when the car is idling....... no they stay on, fortunately

halik

 

[halik008]

ok guys here is some more info:

Check all the fuses and relays all of them are good. Also it's not the battery or alternator since they lights stay on when i step on the brake. Haven't got to the dimmer switch yet.

Here is what happens when i swtich on the parking lights or low beams:

Parking lights:
-no parking lights outside
-no gauge cluster back light
-no HVAC back light
-no stock dock backlight
-no tailights (the non-brake)

Low Beams:
-Headlights work
-no parking lights outside
-no gauge cluster back light
-no HVAC back light
-no stock dock backlight
-no tailights (the non-brake)eadlights work



Turn signals work, brake lights work, reverse lights work.

I do have power to my gauge pod running off the ashtray light, but they are still working and have been troble free for over 4 months so i don't think they are the cause of this..


Any other suggestions other then the dimmer switch??

halik

 

[polarmoment]

mine did this the night i bought it.

the relay under the hood was still good, but it was loose, causing it to go out periodically. try wiggling the relay back and forth in the socket and see if your parking lights go on. i just bent one of the prongs in a little to give it a better contact. haven't had any problems since.

 

[halik008]

check your light fuse, and check your dimmer switch. Here's how:

Take out the dimmer switch (2 phillips screws).

take of the covers (should have plastic clips that hold it togeher, top slides off if i remember correctly.

Now, the part that goes out is the main transistor which is connected to the heat sink. To test this, use a multimeter. I think the transistor is a NPN transistor so put your multimeter on diode test and connect the positive lead to the the center pin. Connect the negative lead to one the outer pins. Now test the center pin and the other lead. If either report bad, you have a bad transistor. (note, the readings may be a few ohms off because the transistor is still in place on the board, but it should be evident if it's blown). For more information on transistor testing, click here.

If your transistor is bad, it's not too hard to get a new one. Get the number off of the transistor (i don't remember the cross reference) and use this cross-reference. If there isn't a NTE dealer around you, i'm one so just PM me and i'll ship you one via paypal or something.

Well shit it's not the dimmer swithc eaither. I got +- 560 reading across both side to center. BTW the transistor is PNP

Any other ideas fellas??

halik

 

[halik008]

ok I found the problem. I have no voltage going across the tail lights 15A fuse in the engine bay. If i jump the fuse via the radio fuse I get everything to light up!!!

What might cause this? Is the tail lights relay before or after the fuse in terms of current?

halik

 

[bangedUpGSX]

just thought I'd add that I just had the same problem....replace the 15A fuse in the engine fuse box and it was solved.

Hope this adds credibility to the possible solution for anyone else reading this.

 

[bigdogg2834]

Well my taillights wont come on when I turn my lights on and the same with my dash lights. I am kind of a newb when it comes to electrical work. The first thing I thought of was that the taillight fuse might be blown so I checked it and sure enough it was. So I bought a pack of fuses and every time I put a new one in and turn my lights on the fuse blows. So I'm not sure what to do now. The car is a 96 Eclipse AWD Turbo. And I haven't done anything electrical lately, I know thats probably the first question that will be asked. So if anybody could help out with any ideas that would help out a ton. Thanks.

 

[LRS95TSI]

there might be a short of some type. i have even a bigger problem. my entire dash doesn't function. no gauges or lights work. i can't figure it out i replaced all fuses and they are still good, but my tailights and headlights and radio still work....DAMN DSM's and their maintance

 

[umustbconfused]

A friend of mine had the same problem and after paying the dealership 450 bones to fix the problem he found out that it was a wire that had come loose on his aftermarket cd player. You might want to check there.

 

[bigdogg2834]

Thanks for the replies. I don't think it is the aftermarket radio because it still lights up fine and works fine. And the tailights work when I press the brake peddle and headlights work also. It's my parking lights,dash and taillights that don't light up when I turn my lights on. And why would the fuse keep blowing, do you think I have another fuse somewhere that is blown that is causing the others to blow (should probably check that) or is it most likely a short? Keep the replies coming if anyone else has anymore ideas.

 

[DSMfânâtic]

Check fuses.

When I installed my boost gauge, I popped a fuse and my dash & tails didn't work.

I think it's under the hood.

 

[bigdogg2834]

Yeah I only checked the taillight fuse. Tomorrow I will go out and check all the fuses and then let you guys know if anything changes.

 

[sjgYFZ200]

You obviously have a short somewhere. Now you get to dig in and find it! Also, have you checked your Relay's? Check the "Tail" relay.

 

[UVaJester]

I am having the same exact problem... I have checked the relay's and everything.. I am getting ready to dig under the dash and all around the car looking for a short.... This is the most frustrating problem I have ever had with my DSM... if anyone finds out what there problem was.. please let us know... good luck..

Jester

 

[2gForMe]

Check the wire coming off your aftermarket cd player called Dimmer, or illumination.
It could be shorting out somewhere.

Doesnt matter is your cd player works fine this only has to do with if when you turn on your lights, does the cd player dim?

I still havent fixed my problem.
My fuse was blown so i changed it and its fine, but it still wont work.
Replaced relay, dimmer, etc. Its a short having something to do with that damn wire, i cant find where though.

 

[UVaJester]

I can't find my problem either... I have redone all the wiring in my stereo and traced all my aftermarket electronics to make sure they are not shorting out... but i still cannot find a short anywhere. I have checked all the bulbs and their connectors... I have switched the relays around just to make sure it wasnt the relay... nothing...

I also unhooked my alarm brain to make sure there wasn't something going on in there... who knows... I am about to go crazy... Any more suggestions..??

Jester

 

[boostcreep]

Which 15amp fuse?

 

[Blitz_Mitz_dsm]

I have the same problem, and since my car came back from paint its been more of a bother. I did the wrong thing and put a thirty fuse in instead of a 15 which kept it from happening for awhile but i decided that was a dumb idea and it just blew with the thirty and I went back to the 15. Tomorrow I'm going to start searching for the short (if there is one) if I find it I'll let you know where mine is. If I can't find it its going to a shop to figure out the problem and I'll let you know about that as well.


-Pvt. Johnson

 

[D_Eclipse9916]

I have the same problem, and since my car came back from paint its been more of a bother. I did the wrong thing and put a thirty fuse in instead of a 15 which kept it from happening for awhile but i decided that was a dumb idea and it just blew with the thirty and I went back to the 15. Tomorrow I'm going to start searching for the short (if there is one) if I find it I'll let you know where mine is. If I can't find it its going to a shop to figure out the problem and I'll let you know about that as well.


-Pvt. Johnson

If you have your stock dimmer wire connected to the aftermarket illumination wire that will blow fuses and possibly even relays. Dont bother ever hooking up those wires....