Dash light short? ..troubleshooting

TyranosaurusWRX · 06-22-2005, 02:02 AM

Not too long ago I replaced my stock boost gauge with another one. The new one has multiple colors (LEDs), so it requires an "always on" 12V source to remember your color preference. The stock boost gauge of course has the vacuum tube, black ground wire, and yellow accessory power wire. I ran the constant 12V from the fuse box. Everything was fine until today. I pulled the gauge out of the pod to make sure that the vacuum tube was still properly fitted. In the process I manged to short two wires together due to a crappy tape job.

My dash lights are no longer working. My clock is out. My head unit (not stock) has partial illumination but will not turn on. No fuses are burnt out under the dash nor under the hood. I pulled out the continuity tester and I can get +voltage on all three wires ( 12v, ACC, and ground) at the boost gauge when the ignition is on. When the car is off, only the 12v constant source shows voltage.
For the hell of it, When the car was off, I applied the constant voltage to the accessory wire, which illuminated the dash. I applied the 12v to what used to be the ground and the parking lights came on.
I take it something is fried together somewhere along the way?

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2phless · 06-22-2005, 09:36 AM

The subaru dash illumination wire uses a 12v when the parking lights are on and a variable resistance for the ground side to dim the panel. That stuff is sensitive and you've probably popped the dimmer.

TyranosaurusWRX · 06-22-2005, 11:31 AM

Quote:

That stuff is sensitive and you've probably popped the dimmer.

As in the switch itself? If so, do you know where that is located? I am assuming near the turn-signal arm....

Mulder · 06-22-2005, 03:49 PM

Not the switch, you probably blew the illumination control module.

TyranosaurusWRX · 06-22-2005, 04:26 PM

Hmmmm, sounds serious.......

TyranosaurusWRX · 06-23-2005, 01:39 AM

Any idea where this module is on an 02 wrx?

TyranosaurusWRX · 11-03-2007, 10:44 AM

Just to update this, if anyone ever comes across this post I would like to add a link to what I found. Finally got around to messing with this.....

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=1374998

06-22-2005, 02:02 AM	#1
TyranosaurusWRX Scooby Specialist Member#: 25731 Join Date: Oct 2002 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: flatlands usa, (IN) Vehicle: 02 wrx(sold)/2005 Sti/ 93 Leg Wag	Dash light short? ..troubleshooting Not too long ago I replaced my stock boost gauge with another one. The new one has multiple colors (LEDs), so it requires an "always on" 12V source to remember your color preference. The stock boost gauge of course has the vacuum tube, black ground wire, and yellow accessory power wire. I ran the constant 12V from the fuse box. Everything was fine until today. I pulled the gauge out of the pod to make sure that the vacuum tube was still properly fitted. In the process I manged to short two wires together due to a crappy tape job. My dash lights are no longer working. My clock is out. My head unit (not stock) has partial illumination but will not turn on. No fuses are burnt out under the dash nor under the hood. I pulled out the continuity tester and I can get +voltage on all three wires ( 12v, ACC, and ground) at the boost gauge when the ignition is on. When the car is off, only the 12v constant source shows voltage. For the hell of it, When the car was off, I applied the constant voltage to the accessory wire, which illuminated the dash. I applied the 12v to what used to be the ground and the parking lights came on. I take it something is fried together somewhere along the way? * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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06-22-2005, 09:36 AM	#2
2phless Scooby Specialist Member#: 69343 Join Date: Aug 2004 Chapter/Region: South East Location: 'tween Lewisville&Clemmons NC Vehicle: 2000 nothing good slow	The subaru dash illumination wire uses a 12v when the parking lights are on and a variable resistance for the ground side to dim the panel. That stuff is sensitive and you've probably popped the dimmer.

06-22-2005, 03:49 PM	#4
Mulder Trust no one Moderator Member#: 11170 Join Date: Oct 2001 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: NYC Vehicle: 02 WRX 05 GTO/11 Sonata(!)	Not the switch, you probably blew the illumination control module.

06-22-2005, 04:26 PM	#5
TyranosaurusWRX Scooby Specialist Member#: 25731 Join Date: Oct 2002 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: flatlands usa, (IN) Vehicle: 02 wrx(sold)/2005 Sti/ 93 Leg Wag	Hmmmm, sounds serious.......

06-23-2005, 01:39 AM	#6
TyranosaurusWRX Scooby Specialist Member#: 25731 Join Date: Oct 2002 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: flatlands usa, (IN) Vehicle: 02 wrx(sold)/2005 Sti/ 93 Leg Wag	Any idea where this module is on an 02 wrx?

11-03-2007, 10:44 AM	#7
TyranosaurusWRX Scooby Specialist Member#: 25731 Join Date: Oct 2002 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: flatlands usa, (IN) Vehicle: 02 wrx(sold)/2005 Sti/ 93 Leg Wag	Just to update this, if anyone ever comes across this post I would like to add a link to what I found. Finally got around to messing with this..... http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=1374998