Broke my dash lights

[pope523]

One of the first things I did when I got my 99 Mountaineer was installed aftermarket stereo. When I was finished, everything worked great except my instrument panel illumination. When I start the car, all the warning lights momentarily come on to test (except the engine light, someone probably unplugged that bulb to conceal a code) but the lights that illuminate the dials and stuff, none of them come on anymore.

I read posts on this problem, which seems pretty common. I checked all the fuses both inside the cabin and under the hood. I removed the dimmer module, the one with the wheel that spins up and down, and cleaned it. I bought 2 more from a junk yard and they don't work either. I'm pretty sure the problem is elsewhere.

I know just enough to be dangerous. I own a multimeter and know how to test for continuity, read voltage and resistance if I know what values I'm looking for.

Any guidance would be appreciated, TIA!

Joe

 

[pope523]

?

 

[blue98explorer]

Sounds like you may have hooked a wire from the radio into your illumination circuit that could be the wrong wire or drawing too much, do you have any blown fuses?

 

[DjDom]

Disconnect the radio, and see if it works. Seems like you're sending power to or grounding out the illumination circuit.