this may be a stupid question but the dash lights that illuminate the speedo/tach etc do not come on.Ive tried the brigntess switch but it doesnt turn them on.its kinda hard to drive at night with out seeing the vitals.so what can I do so I can see things?

 

OR

 

 

GD

thanks goodness for old harbor freight!

 

I got pulled over for no tailights either(not even a warning) so I check the fuse-blown.i tried another 15amp it blew on contact.i tried a 20 amp it blew on contact I put a 30 amp fuse in and it was okay till something started smoking 30 seconds latter...so What is the real issue.

A short somewheres. Where did the wire smoke? (front, back, dash)

I got pulled over for no tailights either(not even a warning) so I check the fuse-blown.i tried another 15amp it blew on contact.i tried a 20 amp it blew on contact I put a 30 amp fuse in and it was okay till something started smoking 30 seconds latter...so What is the real issue.

 

Likely a bare wire or wires between the dash and the taillights. Youre going to have to take the right side (pass) sill plates off and OHM the wires from the circuit and such to try to find it and replace the section that is burned up.

Ohm?

Ohm?

 

(slaps forehead)

 

Man - someone PLEASE post the HTKYSA for him. I've lost the PDF.....

 

GD

Here you be....

 

http://www.suberdave.com/subaru/HTKYSA/

WTH!!! after searching I found someone had a similar problem and solved it by pulling the marker light fuse.I tried it after pulling apart 1/2 of my interior.It works for some bizzare crazy reason.I put the fuse from the marker lights in the spot for tailights expecting it to blow.its still holding.just now my marker lights come on/off when ever my lights are on/off.Really weird...

it sounds like you took it half apart, and that relieved a short that was occurring in one of the wires you touched. inspect every MM of every wire you exposed.

 

I have also had all my dash lights, and my tail lights, and my front running lights (anything switched on with the parking/tail lights but NOT the headlights) shorted by imporper stereo installation.... drove from here to miami and back like that in my Geo once without knowing it. (well, not knowing my taillights were out) so if you have this problem after a stereo install, you probably used the wrong wire for a ground...

 

but that comment was just put in ther for anyone who clisk this thread looking for answers of their own.

i had the same problem, a week later my alternator died, new alt in, fuse never blew again.

 

cynical