instrument illumination problem

[OFCR MOE]

so i have a major problem with the instument illumination for my gauges.

my instrument lights do not work,every time i turn on my headlight switch to park or head and turn the dimmer switch so that the dome lights turn on, fuse 4 blows ( fuse 4=exterior lamps, instrument illumination, warning chime). if i just have it so the dimmer switch is only turning on the instrument lights and not the dome lights, the lights on the gauge cluster do not work.

on alldata it says voltage is applied to fuse 4 all the time, when the light switch is set to park or head voltage is applied to fuse 13. ( fuse 13= instrument illumination) now the reason for fuse 13 not blowing is because i am useing a 20 amp fuse, so it blows 4 instead.

now if i set the main light switch to park or head, and the dimmer switch is just set to illuminate the gauge cluster ( not the dome light ). the fuse will not blow, and i dont get any illumination. but as soon as i turn the dimmer switch so that the dome lights turn on, fuse 4 blows.

i replaced the dimmer switch and it still does not work.

btw: i got the lights to work properly when i had no center concole and no deck. ( there was a short wire beside the e-brake mechanism). taped up the wires and it worked great. put my deck in and as soon as i connected the antenna wire to the deck fuse 4 blew again. so i left it out and now fuse 4 keeps blowing.

help me please

 

[HISSIN50]

I would highly recommend putting the proper fuse back in the fuse 13 slot. A fire will cause a lot more issues than a blown fuse.

If I read ya right (I have NOT had coffee yet so I might be way off base), it sounds like the dome light is an issue. I would disconnect the circuit you think is the culprit and try all the light positions again. When you disconnect the offending circuit, the fuse will not blow. Now you trace that disconnected circuit to find the short.

You noted the stereo having had some effect. Did you insulate the dimmer wire for the stereo? If it floats around inside the console, chances are it will find metal and short to ground.

Good luck.

 

[Joey7508]

My car would blow the illumination fuse every once in a while, and it took me a while to figure out that the e-brake switch was doing it. It was lose and making a connection. Just an idea a short is always a pain to trace. Worth checking though.

 

[OFCR MOE]

how would i disconnect the dome light power?

and if it is the dome light, the gauge cluster should still illuminate.