91 explorer - no dash lights!

[ev_dude]

hey guys this is my 1st post, seems like a great fourm . i have a problem with my 91 explorer, the dash lights do not work. my insturment gauge lights are out, as well as the lights inside of the heater/ac panel (i have an aftermarket CD deck which works). i have checked ALL of the fuses and the "instrument panel illumination" fuse was blown. i replaced it and it just blew again once i turned the headlights on. i eventually got around to checking the headlight switch which was acting funny earlier, it would make a grinding type noise when i turned it (the dimmer) i looked at it and sure enough the spring coil was seperated from the other end of the coil on the switch. it looked like it had been soldered in half. i later replaced the light switch only to have the same thing happen again,the fuse blew, and once i replaced the fuse and adjusted the dimmer, the spring coil got soldered in half again....i now have another headlight switch and am lookin for some help before i blow this one too, i would appreciate any help you guys could give me. the winters in alaska are pretty dark and it would be nice to know how fast im going at night & how much gas i have left thanks
evan nielson

 

[gordhunt]

If your stereo is grounded to the factory wiring harness and not a body ground your lights will not work. I had a mustang with the same problem and tried everything and that's all it was. Try moving your stereo ground to a metal part of the dash and see if that works.

 

[ev_dude]

alright thanks, ill go ahead and try that..let ya know how it goes

 

[ev_dude]

well i grounded the stereo to the dash and still no lights, i was looking at the headlight switch when i turned on the headlights and the spring coil turned red hot..i turned it off before it soldered through...so no luck...any other possible suggestions?

 

[gordhunt]

You must have a short cause that is the only reason the coil would get that hot. Have you added anyother accesories lately like a CB or anything?Is your stereo or anything wired into the factory wiring harness with a factory style plug? Cause if so I'd disconnect those first and see if it does the same thing. If your stereo or whatever is soldered into the factory wires just disconnect the harness from the back of the stereo (or whatever) and try it again.

 

[ev_dude]

nice!lights are workin again! thanks a lot man... i disconnected the aftermarket harness that converts everything to my alpine deck from the factory one. the dash lights came on right afterwards now the next question is, how can i get my stereo to work along with my dash lights? thanks so much again..

 

[PROTEUS]

your stereo must have the diagram of wires and what they are ... trow the aftermarket harness and make the connection directly from the stereo to the wires of the X,
you can test the wires to find the speakers wires, +12V (red and yellow wires normally), ground, etc.

 

[ev_dude]

alright, thanks man.