Dash Lights
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2008
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Dash Lights
Just reciently noticed that sometimes when i turn on the headlights the dashlights will brefley go out and so will the sterio. Dosent happen everytime maby only 3 out of 5 times. I just bought the truck and changed the sterio not sure if this was happening before. Im pretty sure i tapped into the right feed for the sterio. Their was only power with ignition on... I know the radio is definatly installed better that previous owner... on 8 wires i counted like 16 but connectors...
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,182
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From: Gateway to the West
The dash lights going out is most likely a dirty or dying dimmer coil in the headlight switch. If you run with the dash lights all the way up all the time the coil has probably deteriorated over time. The stereo being affected by it is weird because it should be on a completely separate circuit. Now it could be that you have the stereo wired to the lamp circuit for the old factory stereo. That would explain the stereo going off when the dash lamps do. The factory stereos had a separate wire from the dash lamp circuit for the backlight in the stereo head. This allowed the backlight in the stereo to dim when you dimmed the dash lamps. However, that would also mean that the stereo wouldn't work unless your lights are on.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2008
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Ya thats what i was thinking too... if it was wired into the dash lights it would not go on without the lights on. found another wierd one the other day... If i turn the lights on with the truck off the sterio comes on..LOL. I think im going to pull the sterio and just run a feed from the fuse box. I know its on the right line as i probed every wire in that harness... With the freak show of wiring in ths truck nothing is surprising me right now. iv pulled out 30 feet of live wires that were just laying around on teh floor
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,182
Likes: 12
From: Gateway to the West
Wow, sounds like the P/O had a ton of aftermarket accessories and pulled them when he got rid of the truck but left all the power feed wiring.
Your idea of just running a new dedicated line is probably the simplest and safest fix for the problem.
Your idea of just running a new dedicated line is probably the simplest and safest fix for the problem.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2008
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ya it probably is a dirty switch. its not happening as often now but still has be baffled as to why the radio would go out when it happens. I know im not hooked into the wire for the radio display.... for the cost of a new headlight switch im gonna just go and replace it maby their is some sort of intermitant short in the switch.
Hotshot
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11,958
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I bet the switch is worn out or dirty or burnt. Sometimes the connector on the switch melts as well. The switch is not that expensive. Its probably 15-20 bucks at autozone, orielly, advance etc. I would look at the connector and if it is in bad shape, replace it as well.
I would think that running the dash lights dim would prematurely wear out the switch, because the switch is taking more of the load away from the bulbs. Isn't that how dimmers work. The power draw for the bulbs is the same regardless of bright or dim. The dimmer uses up the difference. Isn't that how it works.
As for the radio issue, Do you have the radio illuminationn dimmer hooked up. Thats the feature that dims the display when the headlights are turned on. This could be part of the problem. I never use that feature on aftermarket radios. Just make sure that your wires are hooked up correctly and try it again. Did you use on the the factory pigtail connectors to mate the stereo to the factory harness? If not do this and you shouldn't have any problem unless you have the wiring wrong somewhere.
I would think that running the dash lights dim would prematurely wear out the switch, because the switch is taking more of the load away from the bulbs. Isn't that how dimmers work. The power draw for the bulbs is the same regardless of bright or dim. The dimmer uses up the difference. Isn't that how it works.
As for the radio issue, Do you have the radio illuminationn dimmer hooked up. Thats the feature that dims the display when the headlights are turned on. This could be part of the problem. I never use that feature on aftermarket radios. Just make sure that your wires are hooked up correctly and try it again. Did you use on the the factory pigtail connectors to mate the stereo to the factory harness? If not do this and you shouldn't have any problem unless you have the wiring wrong somewhere.
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Cross-Country
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Correct me if im wrong but on a factory radio the lights in the radio come on as soon as you turn on the ignition right? It dosent mater if the headlights are on or not? If thats the case then boy do i feel like a idiot i would have probably tapped into the dimmer wire not thinking about that feature hence why the radio goes of when the dash lights do. Now im wondering where the Hot lead for teh radio disapeared to as i probed all teh wires and only found one that was hot with the ignition on. The previous owner must ave really cut it off short. I think ill stick with my previous plan and just go direct to the fuse box and find a location that has switched power....
**** this is reminding me of my first install 15 years ago in a gm. When probing the wires the wire that controlls the dimmer function acts as a ground when the lights are off. So stupid me grounded the radio to that wire and everytime i turned on the lights i blew the fuse in the radio. Took the radio back 3 times before i figured that one out.
**** this is reminding me of my first install 15 years ago in a gm. When probing the wires the wire that controlls the dimmer function acts as a ground when the lights are off. So stupid me grounded the radio to that wire and everytime i turned on the lights i blew the fuse in the radio. Took the radio back 3 times before i figured that one out.
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Here you go
Just reciently noticed that sometimes when i turn on the headlights the dashlights will brefley go out and so will the sterio. Dosent happen everytime maby only 3 out of 5 times. I just bought the truck and changed the sterio not sure if this was happening before. Im pretty sure i tapped into the right feed for the sterio. Their was only power with ignition on... I know the radio is definatly installed better that previous owner... on 8 wires i counted like 16 but connectors...
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