dash lights out

dave1970p · Post by **dave1970p** » April 14th, 2005, 1:51 am

i was installing a radio in my mx3, and the instrument cluster lights dont work and neither does my gas gauge. when it happend i blew 2 fuses. after putting in new ones the problems still there. any suggestions on how to fix problem not so much worried about lights as i am gas gauge.

Grants · Post by **Grants** » April 14th, 2005, 2:30 am

Did you use the original ground point for the new radio? If you ground it in the wrong place things sometimes go haywire.

The only thing the ind lights and fuel gauge have in common is their gound point which is under the dash near the fuse block. Check there first.

dave1970p · Post by **dave1970p** » April 14th, 2005, 11:02 am

i think i have used the original ground. in the us you can buy a stereo installtion kit and it plugs right up to oem plugs. but like i said it blew two fuses and the dash lights and gas gauge dont work. well the gas gauge works from half tank to full anything lower than half of a tank and the gauge stops working. someone had mentioned to me about a relay switch under the dash but i cant find any info on it, nor can i find it under my dash ever heard of this switch.

Grants · Post by **Grants** » April 14th, 2005, 5:00 pm

If you blew the fuses, try this thread, you may have blown the dimmer:

http://www.mx-3.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=3488&start=0

If thats ok you should try pulling out the new radio and see if they work then. Have a look at this post:

http://www.mx-3.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.ph ... dio+ground

dave1970p · Post by **dave1970p** » April 15th, 2005, 1:35 am

ok im going to try the dimmer switch as soon as i pick it up at the shop. had to take it in for seat belt problems. they still fix those for free if anyone is having a problem with theres

2fazed · Post by **2fazed** » April 15th, 2005, 6:53 pm

I've had this problem in 3 different model Mazdas. What it is, is when you connect a high powered stereo, with the stock negative ground, it shorts the dimmer, which shorts the tail lights, dash, etc. Either you use an aftermarket wire harness, or run a separate ground to the stereo.