I have an 84 hatchback and my Dash/Running Lights have gone out but my headlights, brakelights, signals and hazards all work fine. I checked the fuse box and the fuse was blown. I replaced it, then turned my lights on, instantly, the dome light dims and then fuse blows. I tried another light switch and it still does the same thing. I unplugged everything from the back of the cluster, still blows the fuse. I unplugged the brake lights and the license plate lights and still blows the fuse.

Any ideas, any common short places?

 

-Max

the headlights themselves ground thru the switch. i would suggest the switch itself is bad, and causing your problem

By a box of fuses. Remove all the bulbs, replace the fuse, and turn on the switch. If you can get that far start replacing the bulbs till the fuse blows. That will give you a starting point.

 

 

nipper

figured it out, dash light wiring was lose and grounding itself. Pretty sad b/c I torn apart my whole dash to find it.

-Max