Earlier i was installing a reverse radio harness and end up with an extra wire, traced it back, ended up going to the dimmer switch and was wondering where it originally tapped into? The wire is the solid red one.

 

It originally went to the stock HU, red is the ground for all dash lights that dim when "dimmer" control is used, the red/black is the park/dash light power lead, dimming is done by "limiting" the amount of ground the bulb gets. 94

BTW, not needed for aftermarket HUs, cap it off.

 

if my dash lights dont work at all can it be cause of that red wire your talking about?i already checked fuses and changed dimmer switch but still dont work

 

It is possible that there is a break in the red lead someplace between the "Dash Brightness Controller Switch"., ["dimmer switch"] and the dash lights.

There are some test you will need to do to see what the problem is.

Do you have or can you borrow a multimeter or at least a test light? 94

BTW jacking someones tread is frowned upon here, you should have started your own, I replied only because you are new here, also when posting you should give the MM&Y of your car, it is a Honda/Acura site but you could be talking about a 62 Borgward Isabella

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by joshluis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if my dash lights dont work at all can it be cause of that red wire your talking about?i already checked fuses and changed dimmer switch but still dont work</TD></TR></TABLE>

Often times it is the lead connections for the switch and not the switch itself. Just something to look into. This was a problem on my EG...

 

srry about stilling somebody elses thread didnt kno..well ya i have a eg hatch 92

 

Do you have or can you borrow a multimeter or at least a test light? 94

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by joshluis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if my dash lights dont work at all can it be cause of that red wire your talking about?i already checked fuses and changed dimmer switch but still dont work</TD></TR></TABLE>

After checking that my dash lights wouldn't work without that wire being connected to a ground.


Thanks for the responses

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by wutupnut &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">After checking that my dash lights wouldn't work without that wire being connected to a ground. </TD></TR></TABLE> you didn't ground the red lead did you?

If you did, then the "dimmer" will not work. 94

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fcm &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> you didn't ground the red lead did you?

If you did, then the "dimmer" will not work. 94</TD></TR></TABLE>

Without it not being grounded the dash lights wouldn't work at all.

 

Then pull the "dimmer" switch and unplug it, [disconnect the red lead where you grounded it] the plug should have 3 leads red/black, red and black, use a jumper, [from chassis] to ground the red lead at the plug, turn on the lights to see if they work, if they do, use the jumper to jump from the red lead to the black lead, do the lights work?

If the lights work when you ground the red lead, [at the plug] to the chassis but not when you jump from the black lead to the red lead then the problem is no ground input to the switch, check the black lead for a break or just ground it.

If the lights work when the red lead is grounded to the chassis and when grounded, [jumped] to the black lead then the problem is the "dimmer" switch, replace it.

If the lights will not work either way there is a break in the red lead after the switch, and if you want them to work properly you will have to find the break, or maybe connect the red lead you grounded to the red lead at the switch. 94

 

Id put money that it's the connection at the switch, and also that this guy is not even worried about it now that his dash lights come on. lol

 

i have a test light and i tested the wires dat connect to the dimmer switch and theres no power in none of them

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by joshluis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i have a test light and i tested the wires dat connect to the dimmer switch and theres no power in none of them</TD></TR></TABLE> If there is no power on the red/black lead at the switch, [when park/head lights are on] then the park/dash light fuse is blown.

What is the MM&Y of your car? 94

 

its a 92 eg hatch