Installed new stereo, now dash lights won't dim

[aweiler]

I really need some help on this one. I just installed my sony xplod stereo into my '99 grand am and the lights on my dash (speedometer ect.) weren't working. I figured out that if I hook the dash illumination and dimmer wires together (orange wires coming from the harness) that I could get the lights to at least come on. But, now the dimmer doesn't work. My lights are one high all of the time. It's not a huge problem but it does get really annoying because they're so bright. Any suggestions would be greatlly appreciated.

[PontiacGT]

Ok i'm not really sure how a 99+ works, but here's the scenario on my 97:

When replacing the Head Unit, the entire front dash has to come off, which surrounds the steering wheel, cluster, HVAC and radio. I have to disconnect the dimmer switch to remove this dash peice. The lights on the dash won't light up again until the dimmer switch is re-connected.

like i said, I don't know how it is for 99+ but if you had to disconnect the dimmer switch to install your radio, make sure it's connected again. That's my first guess.

[cletus]

Did you use a wiring harness.

Edit: In the 99+ and newer the only thing you have to remove is the bezzel around the Factory radio. No longer do you have to remove the entire dash. Makes installing a stereo a piece of cake.

[aweiler]

yes, I used a wiring harness
it's the two orange wires coming from the harness that I had to hook together to get the dash lights to work again. My stereo doesn't have a dimming feature so when I went to wire everything together I had the two orange wires coming from the harness that had nothing to hook into. Everything works except the lights won't dim.

[cletus]

You shouldn't have had to hook the two wires together at all. If you dont have a wire on the HU to hook up to a wire on the harness then you should just tape the wire off with electrical tape. And vice versa. What kind of harness did you get? Sorry just trying to trouble shoot for you.

[aweiler]

I used a Dash Solutions GWH-344 DSF harness. I tried taping the wires off and not using them at all because that's what I've done before when I hooked the stereo into my last car, but when I did that this time I had absolutely no dash lights at all. Thats when I went trouble shooting (meaning completly guessing) and started hooking random wires together trying to get them to work.

[Matt95GT]

Originally posted by cletus
You shouldn't have had to hook the two wires together at all. If you dont have a wire on the HU to hook up to a wire on the harness then you should just tape the wire off with electrical tape. And vice versa. What kind of harness did you get? Sorry just trying to trouble shoot for you.

:iagree: Most aftermarket headunits don't use an illumination wire... they just light up when they are turned on. The illumination wire from the harness shouldn't be connected to anything... but needs to be taped off. If it touches metal anywhere your dash won't light and it'll blow a fuse.

To start troubleshooting, remove all the aftermarket wiring... see if the dash lights. If not, check the fuse.

Originally posted by aweiler
Thats when I went trouble shooting (meaning completly guessing) and started hooking random wires together trying to get them to work.

That's rather bad... blown BCMs and fried fusible links happen that way.

[cletus]

I agree Matt remove the aftermarket and check all of your wires try reinstalling the factory radio to see if there may have been a fuse blown in the process of hooking up the new one.

[Cronk152]

you shouldn't have to reconnect the old HU should you. the dash lights don't need a stereo to turn on.

[cletus]

Yes and no since the two orange wires were wired together we need to rule out a few things. Like making sure the new HU is or isnt the culprit. If she puts the old HU back in and things work something is wrong with the wiring of the new HU. And if things dont working after the switch then we can look at other things.

First things first though Before switching back out the HU's undo the orange wires and check all of the fuses in the car. If the problem still persists switch out the HU. And go from there also check to make sure that all the connections for the HU to the wiring harness are correct. EX. Red to red and yellow to yellow. No wires of different colors mixed together. Also make sure the Black wire (ground) is actualy grounded or running through the grounding wire on the car.


Edit: No the car doesnt need to have a stereo on for the dash lights to come on. But if I remember correctly the dimmer for the dash lights also dims the display on the OEM HU. There fore there could be a wire reversed on the wiring harnesses.

[LordRayden]

I just put a Xplod hu in my 99 se today and changed out all stock speakers for xplod ones and i had no problems, none of the chime or light problems everyone else is having so i don't know what's wrong, but i do know i DID connect the orange wire

it sounds waaaayyy better than the stock delco hu with a dead bulb and crappy stock speakers

hope u get it working, good luck

[RocketFast321]

I would check the fuses also. You have one on the driver and pass. side, and one under the hood. The illumination wire is around 12v, and dimmer wire is also 12 volts but drops as you decrease the dimmer switch. So I'm guessing the dimmer system has no power. When put my HU in I only used the illumination wire since my alpine does not dimmer feature.

[Jibo]

If you have the Orange and Orange with White wires of the harness tapped togehter that woudl be the reason the dimmer isnt working as you are now feeding the constant illumination wire back into the dimmer circut. When I installed my aftermarket stereo, the illumination wires were not required at all, I in fact used the orange and white wire to power my neon above the change compartment, thus having it dim with the rest of the lights ;)

as suggested, go back and check your wires again.

[cletus]

I just put a Xplod hu in my 99 se today and changed out all stock speakers for xplod ones and i had no problems, none of the chime or light problems everyone else is having so i don't know what's wrong, but i do know i DID connect the orange wire

The 99 to 2002 I beleive do not have the chime in the HU that is why you did not have any problems. Unlike some of us with newer models. On my 2004 I had to buy a $60 wire harness to get the chime to work.

[Cronk152]

Originally posted by cletus
The 99 to 2002 I beleive do not have the chime in the HU that is why you did not have any problems. Unlike some of us with newer models. On my 2004 I had to buy a $60 wire harness to get the chime to work.

My 01 needed that same harness with that little black box that chimes. cept mine was 150 bucks.

[RocketFast321]

Originally posted by cletus
The 99 to 2002 I beleive do not have the chime in the HU that is why you did not have any problems. Unlike some of us with newer models. On my 2004 I had to buy a $60 wire harness to get the chime to work.

99-00 use the old style wiring system, 01+ has class data 2 wiring system

[cletus]

Thanks for correcting me.

[aweiler]

Ok...I'm quitting. I can't figure out why my lights won't dim but at least they're coming on and off when they're supposed to. Thanks for all the help and suggestions.

[Cronk152]

Thats the spirit.

Just take some days off then go back at it, you'll solve it next time round.