I tried wiring in the dimmer fumction on my Alpine head unit. When I went to ground the circuit, I found a nice looking chassis ground inside the center console. When looking at the console from the passenger's seat, the ground is a bolt in a metal bracket near the back of the gauge cluster that appears to have something else grounded in it. I thought to myself, "well if something else is grounded there, it must be a good ground." So I attach a fork connector onto the end of the dimmer ground wire, loosen the bolt, slip my wire in there, and tighten it down. I tested it out, and the display on the head unit didnt dim. I figured, "whatever, I'll fix it tomorrow." So I loosen the bolt again, slip my wire out, and tighten the bolt back down. I get the dash back together and I go to move the car out of the garage and I notice that none of my dashboard lights up when I flip on the headlights. The headlights work fine, the gauges are functioning, the ODO and clock display is lit, it's just that the gauges or HVAC buttons have no lights at all. The Stealer saw my head unit and wanted to charge me 100 bucks to just check it out. What can I do?

 

sounds like a fuse..if your cubby hole light is out also, then check the fuse panel under the steering wheel area.

sounds like fuse #30 (7.5A), but whip out your manual and check em out (specification section on 'fuses')

 

x2

always check the fuses before going to the dealer.

 

Not trying to sound stupid but theres 2 fuse panels? I know about the one under the hood, that must be what that little door thingy is. I had NO idea what was under that lol.

 

looks like your cluster fucted.

 

yes there are two fuse pannels. one under the hood and one under the steering column

 

I guess I am. I'll check that second panel I forgot all about it.

 

Worked like a charm

 

heeeyyyy. where's the love?? i posted the first answer!