Home and Auto Auto Wiring/dash lights issue - Page 2

JOhn · 03-07-2011, 12:02 AM

OK, I bought a 98 Pontiac Grand Am Friday for around town and decent gas mileage. Anyway When I got it the stock stereo didn't work, but other than that everything else worked fine, including all the lights ect....

I installed a new stereo on Saturday and while doing so I found that one of the 2 power wires to the stereo was not working, the one with a constant power. The other that went to the ignition worked fine.

I ran a new power wire and finished installing the stereo and all worked fine. Until last night when I went to drive to the store and had no back lighting to the dash, including the instrument panel and heat/ac ect.

I do have tail lights and all the other lights work including all the warning dash lights. I checked all the fuses and can't find any that are burnt out or even look remotely bad. Though I did go ahead and replace the one that said INST on the assumption that maybe it was bad.....still no luck.

Ideas on why all the back lighting is not working?

Pushead2 · 03-07-2011, 01:15 AM

Chris Brown sure can dance....

**Bugeater** · 03-07-2011, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOhn

Not sure, I know that I used the adapter plugs to hook the new stereo up, so any unused power wire would not be exposed or anything....I think that makes sense....so not sure how it could ground out?

I didn't really know there were 3 power wires?

My new one only has 2, 1 constant/ 1 ignition power.

Now that I think about it, there were no un accounted wires

Hmm...there should've been. I remember having problems with the dash dimmer knob on a Firebird I used to have, maybe it went bad.

**Bwana** · 03-07-2011, 07:33 AM

It sounds like a trip to the stereo shop is in order. Paying the $50 may suck, but it beats burning the car to the ground from a dash fire.

dtebbe · 03-07-2011, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOhn

Not sure, I know that I used the adapter plugs to hook the new stereo up, so any unused power wire would not be exposed or anything....I think that makes sense....so not sure how it could ground out?

I didn't really know there were 3 power wires?

My new one only has 2, 1 constant/ 1 ignition power.

Now that I think about it, there were no un accounted wires

If you used an install kit that plugs into the factory harness, make sure you taped off the orange and orange/white wires coming out of the stereo side of the harness. Those are your dash illumination circuits. If you just left them hanging they probably shorted out on some metal when you tucked everything back in. Get those insulated and then check your illumination fuse and you should be good to go.

DT

JOhn · 03-07-2011, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtebbe

If you used an install kit that plugs into the factory harness, make sure you taped off the orange and orange/white wires coming out of the stereo side of the harness. Those are your dash illumination circuits. If you just left them hanging they probably shorted out on some metal when you tucked everything back in. Get those insulated and then check your illumination fuse and you should be good to go.

DT

I'll double check that this morning...thank you

LiveSteam · 03-07-2011, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bwana

It sounds like a trip to the stereo shop is in order. Paying the $50 may suck, but it beats burning the car to the ground from a dash fire.

This reminds me of the day my old bizz partner bought a used ford pickup from a dealership.
He drove it 2 blocks off the lot. To the strip bar down the street. Went inside & came out 6 hours later to a truck that had burnt to the ground from the inside out. Tires & everything.

JOhn · 03-07-2011, 04:57 PM

Well I checked all the wires. and suggestion given...nothing.

Hell after looking at the fuse panel diagram I'm not even sure which one is the fuse to control the back lighting...my choices are:

INT LPS (interior lamps?)
INST (Instrument?)
INST LPS (instrument lamps?)

Then others I'm not sure what they are:

PCM
PRNDL
LTR

**Bwana** · 03-07-2011, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiveSteam

This reminds me of the day my old bizz partner bought a used ford pickup from a dealership.
He drove it 2 blocks off the lot. To the strip bar down the street. Went inside & came out 6 hours later to a truck that had burnt to the ground from the inside out. Tires & everything.

Damn! That will teach him to hang in the titty shaker for 6 hours!

CrazyHorse · 03-07-2011, 05:06 PM

Depending on the stereo you may have an in-line fuse. A fuseable link right in the wire itself.

**Bugeater** · 03-07-2011, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOhn

Well I checked all the wires. and suggestion given...nothing.

Hell after looking at the fuse panel diagram I'm not even sure which one is the fuse to control the back lighting...my choices are:

INT LPS (interior lamps?)
INST (Instrument?)
INST LPS (instrument lamps?)

Then others I'm not sure what they are:

PCM
PRNDL
LTR

Look for the one that says WTF.

03-07-2011, 12:02 AM
JOhn El' Barto Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Cody, WY / Tucson AZ Casino cash: $9964900	Auto Wiring/dash lights issue OK, I bought a 98 Pontiac Grand Am Friday for around town and decent gas mileage. Anyway When I got it the stock stereo didn't work, but other than that everything else worked fine, including all the lights ect.... I installed a new stereo on Saturday and while doing so I found that one of the 2 power wires to the stereo was not working, the one with a constant power. The other that went to the ignition worked fine. I ran a new power wire and finished installing the stereo and all worked fine. Until last night when I went to drive to the store and had no back lighting to the dash, including the instrument panel and heat/ac ect. I do have tail lights and all the other lights work including all the warning dash lights. I checked all the fuses and can't find any that are burnt out or even look remotely bad. Though I did go ahead and replace the one that said INST on the assumption that maybe it was bad.....still no luck. Ideas on why all the back lighting is not working?
Posts: 25,529

03-07-2011, 01:15 AM	#16
Pushead2 **** off Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New York Casino cash: $7141882	Chris Brown sure can dance.... __________________ "**** up once, lose two teeth....”
Posts: 5,223

03-07-2011, 07:33 AM	#18
Bwana It's Five O'Clock Somewhere Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Billings, Montana Casino cash: $2139013647	It sounds like a trip to the stereo shop is in order. Paying the $50 may suck, but it beats burning the car to the ground from a dash fire. __________________ Adventure is dangerous....but monotony can kill you.
Posts: 69,824

03-07-2011, 04:57 PM	#22
JOhn El' Barto Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Cody, WY / Tucson AZ Casino cash: $9964900	Well I checked all the wires. and suggestion given...nothing. Hell after looking at the fuse panel diagram I'm not even sure which one is the fuse to control the back lighting...my choices are: INT LPS (interior lamps?) INST (Instrument?) INST LPS (instrument lamps?) Then others I'm not sure what they are: PCM PRNDL LTR
Posts: 25,529

03-07-2011, 05:06 PM	#24
CrazyHorse All Motor! Join Date: Sep 2000 Casino cash: $10004900	Depending on the stereo you may have an in-line fuse. A fuseable link right in the wire itself.
Posts: 2,118