Taillights and instrument panel lights pop fuse

Tiny
TOMMYROBERTS1973
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 DODGE DAKOTA
  • 4.3L
  • V8
  • 250,000 MILES
I was driving down the road at night and I heard the fuse pop, and the parking lights and instrument panel lights went out. Headlights, brake lights, turn signals all fine. I've disconnected the front and rear parking lights, disconnected the coupling for the license plate lights, and also the coupling for the trailer lights.

Still reading continuity across the blown fuse.

is there anything else on this circuit I can disconnect to try to isolate the short?

once everything is unhooked, if I still have a short, is there any way to isolate parts of the harness? Because its mostly in huge bundles of wires in tape and plastic jacketing.
Tuesday, March 31st, 2020 AT 2:59 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good evening,

What you need to do is to disconnect the instrument cluster connector at the back and the connector for the headlight switch. With those disconnected, see if the fuse fails. If it does, then it is wiring somewhere.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-wiring

If it does not fail, plug in the headlight switch and see if it failed. It may be the headlight switch.

If it does not fail, then plug in the cluster and see if it fails. If it does, then you have a short in the cluster.

Roy
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Tuesday, March 31st, 2020 AT 3:26 PM
Tiny
TOMMYROBERTS1973
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Okay, I removed the light switch and the panel cluster.

No continuity at the blown fuse. (Improvement)

Installed new fuse.
Reconnected the light switch.
Radio light came on.

Reinstalled the instrument cluster.

Light switch works, and instrument cluster lights up.

Hooked up left rear brake light, works.
Hooked up right rear brake light, works.

I'm at a loss.

All I did was take it apart and put it back together and its working.

It blew 6 fuses in a row earlier today.
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Tuesday, March 31st, 2020 AT 4:24 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
The cluster is a module and may have an issue. The next time it happens, do just the cluster and see if it clears.

Roy
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Tuesday, March 31st, 2020 AT 4:25 PM
Tiny
TOMMYROBERTS1973
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
All righty then.

Will do. Thanks for your help!
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Tuesday, March 31st, 2020 AT 4:26 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
You are welcome.

Always glad to help.

Roy
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Tuesday, March 31st, 2020 AT 4:32 PM

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