Dash lights fuse keeps blowing!!! Help! Had to install a led strip just to drive :(

[tuckerd93]

So my dash board lights suddenly stopped working. This happend like right after I installed a new amp. Just thought I would mention that lol. When I change the fuse it blows everytime. I have changed it twice and it just keeps blowing. So I had to install a led strip (which I hate!) on to the dash. This is very annoying and I want my dash to work! Any suggestions ?


Thanks!!!!!

photos here

[hairball]

The first question that comes to my mind is where did you run your amp's power wire to for 12 volts? Hopefully directly to the battery. If not, there lies a lot of your problem. Did you happen to connect the power wire to some other wire under your dash? I'm not saying you don't know what you're doing. I've just seen too often where people find the nearest hot wire they can find and tap into it to power aftermarket stuff. If you used a wire, what color is that wire? I'll see what it goes to in the wiring diagram.

[tuckerd93]

I ran it directly to the battery which is only 3 months old. Then I ran the turn on switch from the amp the the cigerette lighter. I also have a few cathode ray tubes installed which are also ran from the battery. Toyota wants $100 just to take a look at it so I'm definetly not doing that crap.


THANK YOU "hairball"!

[Mister_Perkins]

Disconnect the wire that runs to the cig lighter, and connect it correctly to the cd player.

After disconnecting it, install a new fuse and test the function of the dash lights. i bet it wont blow

[hairball]

I'm wondering how would connecting the turn-on lead to the lighter wire works? Isn't it constant 12v or only on with the key? Either way, I was looking at the fuse panel diagram for your year and the lighter and radio are the same fuse but the dash lights are a separate fuse. I'm still trying to help you diagnose your dash light issue. I figured someone else would have had the answer by now. Between you, me and the lamp post we'll get it figured out. At first I was thinking that a wire to the dash has somehow gotten smashed and shorted out but it doesn't sound like it. How about if you move the wire from your lighter and hook it up to something else, does the dash fuse still blow?

[hairball]

Originally Posted by Mister_Perkins

Disconnect the wire that runs to the cig lighter, and connect it correctly to the cd player.

After disconnecting it, install a new fuse and test the function of the dash lights. i bet it wont blow

Damn you! You had the same idea as I did, but you beat me to the post! You posted this while I was typing because my phone keeps ringing!


I've only heard of connecting a wire to the lighter for ONE purpose: I saw a competition system in the 80's where the guy used his lighter as a "hidden" power switch for his entire system! The lighter didn't get hot. It only acted as a switch by completing a circuit. The power wire to his head unit went through the lighter and the lighter ground coming "out" completed the circuit to the deck, thereby creating a cool power switch! He said he did this so nobody else (especially valet people) couldn't turn on his stereo. Very ingenious! And I've tried it and yes, it works! But I highly doubt the OP here did it for this reason. Now that I posted this little secret, I'm going have to kill you both!

[Mister_Perkins]

hehe great minds think alike

[tuckerd93]

I'm going to try that tomarrow. I will keep you posted. Thanks again!!!!