no instrument panel lights
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 394
Likes: 10
From: austin
no instrument panel lights
I just replaced my AM/FM/Cassette deck in my 86 to an aftermarket AM/FM/CD player. The wiring harness from Best Buy did not have the right harness, so I just clipped all the wires and hooked them up directly to the radio. The radio works perfectly fine, but now my instrument panel lights don't turn on when my headlights are on. The 5A fuse had blown, so I replaced it, but they still don't turn on. Is there any way that this problem is the result of something I did in the radio wiring, or do I just need to pull the dash and replace the bulbs?
The radio's wires that I connected ater testing with a test light were:
LG/Y-constant power from battery
Y/Blk-power when ignition is on
LB/R-ground
The other 4 wires were just for the door speakers
Thanks,
TM
The radio's wires that I connected ater testing with a test light were:
LG/Y-constant power from battery
Y/Blk-power when ignition is on
LB/R-ground
The other 4 wires were just for the door speakers
Thanks,
TM
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
no instrument panel lights
LB/R-ground
You state these are the stereo wires not the behind dash wiring.
Ford uses a Light blue/red striped wire to control the variable dash lighting.
What aftermarket stereo did you buy?
You state these are the stereo wires not the behind dash wiring.
Ford uses a Light blue/red striped wire to control the variable dash lighting.
What aftermarket stereo did you buy?
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 394
Likes: 10
From: austin
no instrument panel lights
I bought a Jensen CD3010X CD player.
This morning I regrounded the radio's ground wire on metal behind the radio. Now I have the LB/R wire with nothing to attach it to. The new radio doesn't have a wire for illumination, since it's an LCD that's always on if the radio is turned on. The only wire that I did not use from the radio's wiring is the blue wire for the amp (which I don't have). Then I turned on the headlights, and put my test light on the LB/R wire expecting it to light it, but nothing happened. Is it possible that more damage was done to the circuit by having the radio grounded on this wire?
Thanks,
TM
This morning I regrounded the radio's ground wire on metal behind the radio. Now I have the LB/R wire with nothing to attach it to. The new radio doesn't have a wire for illumination, since it's an LCD that's always on if the radio is turned on. The only wire that I did not use from the radio's wiring is the blue wire for the amp (which I don't have). Then I turned on the headlights, and put my test light on the LB/R wire expecting it to light it, but nothing happened. Is it possible that more damage was done to the circuit by having the radio grounded on this wire?
Thanks,
TM
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,987
Likes: 7
From: Memphis, TN
no instrument panel lights
No, if your dash lights still work, then the LB/R circuit is OK. Maybe that wire is cut somewhere else. If you don't need it and your dash lights work, just stretch the insulation to cover the end of the wire and forget about it.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 394
Likes: 10
From: austin
no instrument panel lights
All of the lights work except for the instrument panel lights. If I want to know how fast I'm going when it's dark out, I have to turn on the dome light to see the speedometer. But I was trying to avoid pulling the dash to replace those bulbs unless I was certain that they were the problem, and not something I caused when I installed the radio.
TM
TM
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,330
Likes: 17
From: Dryden, ON, Canada
no instrument panel lights
Did you replace the panel lighting fuse again?? I'm just re-reading your post and trying to think what it could be, and that sprung into my head, you didn't mention replacing it again, as it would have blown immediatley when you tried to turn the lights on with it still hooked up that way.
Just a thought.
Evan
Just a thought.
Evan
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Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 394
Likes: 10
From: austin
no instrument panel lights
yes, I put another 5A fuse in, but it still didn't work. I'm at a loss right now, so I guess I'll pull the dash today and replace those bulbs. 
TM
TM
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