problem with lights/gauges.. help!!

[dmw319]

so today i turned on my car like usual, and my interior lights dont work. let me specify: the only things working were: L and R turn signal lights, highbeams light, and odometer light. fog/SGS light, as well as the rear defroster light.

pretty much, my left lifht assembly light, shifter light, and all my gauges dont light up, no clue why.

i havent done anything to my car recently besides wash it and oil change, but these wouldnt affect it.. so HELP!!! maybe there is a short somewhere or something? i have no clue.

[dmw319]

also, i noticed my air/hear not working either. nothing comes out and it just makes this real loud noise like from AC unit, like behind the glovebox sorta. :( :( i dont think my car likes me.

any ideas??

[jbfirebird22]

check fuses first

[tWiStEdBird]

Originally posted by jbfirebird22:
check fuses first

^^^ Probably fuses.

[dmw319]

which ones? the ones on the drivers side door near the dash? or the ones under my hood?

[dmw319]

Originally posted by dmw319:
also, i noticed my air/hear not working either. nothing comes out and it just makes this real loud noise like from AC unit, like behind the glovebox sorta. :( :( i dont think my car likes me.

any ideas??

ok well this problem stopped. but the lights are still out. which fuses do i need to check? i have no idea which ones are which. does anyone have a pic (i have a 00 camaro). thanks!

[jbfirebird22]

check the ones inside first...if not there then check under the hood

[dmw319]

they are the inside ones, and all of them are in tact except the 5 AMP one thats labeled "IP Dimmer". but the HVAC and gauges fuse are perfectly fine.

any ideas? anyone had this problem before??

[jbfirebird22]

well, lights are only going to be a few things....fuses, the light itself of getting power from the battery to the light. the dash is controlled by one connection as far as i know. thus meaning that the wires that plug into the cluster pannel control the lights and the needles. so now you have to ask yourself "is it possibly a bad connection to the cluster or the lights in the cluster" also make sure you check the fuses under the hood. i dont recall if there is one onder the hood for your dash as well" you may also want to replace the dimmer fuse. that could do it

[dmw319]

UPDATE!

i replaced the #16 5 amp fuse (IP dimmer), but it blew as soon as i turned my car back on. i also tried a 7.5 and 10 amp fuse, and they both blew as well.


HELP! what could be causing them to blow?

[dmw319]

maybe theres a short somewhere? but where?

[dmw319]

helppp.. anyoneee?

[jbfirebird22]

there is definately a short if the fuse blows. have you taken anything apart recently or replaced any bulbs recently? last time i had that type of issue, i changed the rear tailight bulb and it would pop the fuse. i didnt know what was causing it till i went on a hunch and found that one of the screws was
pinching the wire

[dmw319]

i changed all the interior lights to blue LEDs, but that as a good month ago.

i changed the DRL bulbs last week in the front, but i dont think thats the problem.

id just hate to take this into a shop and they try and charge me like 70 dollars for "advanced diagnostics" on a frickin short in a wire somewhere.

[jbfirebird22]

well, its a very good possibility that when you did those changes (even if it was a month ago) that it may be causing the issue. when i had figured out my issue, the lights were changed well in advance of this issue. it takes a while for driving vibrations to get the metal part to wear through the plastic coating of the wire. you cant rule anything out atm