Interior and license plate lights do not work

[nos4blood70]

Yeah so basically my interior lighting just doesn't work, and this is very annoying because I cannot see how fast I am going at night. None of the red illumination works. Only the window switches and lock buttons on both front doors still work. Furthermore, the license plate lights also do not work, which in some places might get me pulled over. All the gauge needles work fine, as with all the LCD screens on the radio and the climate control. The LED indicators for things such as the heated seats or rear defrost also work fine. Very weird and random problem. All fuses and relays are good. Looks like a short? And it would appear that the license plate illumination is related to the red back lighting on all the gauges.

Any and all help with this issue would be greatly appreciated, if not simply for the sake of seeing my speedometer and other instruments... I just miss that good old Pontiac red glow.

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[DOC-Z]

I had something similar happen to my Firebird. There was a bad ground wire, which wasn't attached.

First, I would check the fuses. Then I would take a gander under your dash and see if anything is hanging down. The grounds should be on the far right and left side of the dash, just above the top area of the kick panels.

 

[P40E]

Your dash lights and your plate light are told to come on by the headlight switch when you turn it on or when it's told to come on by the auto headlight on circuit(If you have that type of switch) . I would look at the wiring around that area or that wiring circuit .

 

[Mattstrike]

Check the dimmer switch too. If it's anything like the '86-'99, it's 3 wires, ground, +12v, and output. Connect the +12v to output, if everything lights up, then bad dimmer.

 

[nos4blood70]

I'll check into the grounds. I know it's not the dimmer switch, I have three different ones and all of them do not work.

The thing that's weird is, the illumination works on the window switches in the doors, but nothing on the dash works.

Thanks for the input so far.

Btw, this happened a while back when I was switching radios around. Not sure if its explicitly related. Both were just stock GM Delco head units.

 

[nos4blood70]

Grounds are sound.

Could replacement LEDs in the other head unit have caused this? It was given to me from a friend who installed a iPod hook up in it. Some of the incandescent bulbs were replaced with LED bulbs. Could that have caused a surge or a short? Forgive me, but I'm not well versed in electronics or wiring.

 

[Lord Tin Foilhat]

Grounds are sound.

Could replacement LEDs in the other head unit have caused this? It was given to me from a friend who installed a iPod hook up in it. Some of the incandescent bulbs were replaced with LED bulbs. Could that have caused a surge or a short? Forgive me, but I'm not well versed in electronics or wiring.

Doubtful

 

[boostedguy05]

inb4jamessaystosmokeseveralcigaretsotonceforaniceredglow.

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

well maybe if he reversed the diodes but I'm not a hundred percent sure on that actually blowing the circuit

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

disconnect the radio and retest

 

[boostedguy05]

well maybe if he reversed the diodes but I'm not a hundred percent sure on that actually blowing the circuit

even then. wouldnt a fuse be blown?

 

[Frank Dukes]

ignition switch going bad can cause some funny stuff in these cars as well.

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

possibly not it could draw enough to prevent enough voltage to illuminate the OEM incandescent bulbs yet not dry enough to kill the fuse.
remember current takes the path of least resistance and the incandescents are very high resistance unlike a reversed diode

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

Plus this is clearly a case of 3800's law..... whatever you fucked with last is probably what you fucked up.....

 

[nos4blood70]

I've had both radios in and out many a time. Currently have the original non-LED radio in, and nada. I've put my dimmer and cluster into another 2000+ and it lit up as it was supposed to. Looking for a short in the wiring inside the dash brings up thoughts of self harm. Curse you 3800's law.

 

[boostedguy05]

sell it during the day time for cheap and run after sale is complete.

 

[nos4blood70]

Too bad the car isn't worth anything, and I can't complain about its reliability! Otherwise it would have been long gone. Sadly the car guy dream has to die for a little while I take care of schooling.

 

[nos4blood70]

Replaced the dash integration module…..



I'm so happy I could cry.