Dash lights not working!

[Rommy]

Okay. I just bought a 1990 Supra. Engine is going put-put-put. Could be a blown headgasket, or just needs new spark plugs. Either way, I have a problem on my hands, and I've barely had the car 4 hours.

The instrument panel doesn't light up; speedometer, tachometer, etc. Apparently someone had stolen the radio. When it had been removed, the owner told me the dash lights stopped working. Anyone know a quick fix for this? A wire I need to hook up again?

I'm very familiar with car electronics, but I'd rather ask here first, in case someone new a quicker fix. I know I'll probably have to pull half the dash out anyways to put a new radio in.

[TONY!]

I once mentioned that to a mechanic a while back.
He said something that I thought would have been dumb: "Are you sure you don't have it dimmed all the way down?"
Turns out that when I was cleaning it, I set it to its lowest setting and actually turned it off.

Worth a shot. The dimmer is on the left hand side (on left hand drive cars).
Maybe that would actually be the case.

[Rommy]

Originally Posted by TONY!

I once mentioned that to a mechanic a while back.
He said something that I thought would have been dumb: "Are you sure you don't have it dimmed all the way down?"
Turns out that when I was cleaning it, I set it to its lowest setting and actually turned it off.

Worth a shot. The dimmer is on the left hand side (on left hand drive cars).
Maybe that would actually be the case.

Lol, thanks. I tried that already though.

[mrnickleye]

Check fuses, cause thieves usually cut wires, and may have shorted it out.

[Rommy]

Originally Posted by mrnickleye

Check fuses, cause thieves usually cut wires, and may have shorted it out.

I didn't waste my time doing that (yet) because I checked the manual, and from what I could tell (I could be stupid though) if a fuse that controlled the dash lights were blown, my interior lights wouldn't work, and/or my exterior lights wouldn't work. And they work.

But I'll check them anyways, just for the hell of it. It sucks that I work all day and only have one hour until it gets dark to work on my car on weekdays.

[1988gte]

mine had the same problems just bought the two harnesses (from car mine was cut off and for stereo) and lights came on. if i remember right there was a couple of wires for ilumnation

[Rommy]

Originally Posted by 1988gte

mine had the same problems just bought the two harnesses (from car mine was cut off and for stereo) and lights came on. if i remember right there was a couple of wires for ilumnation

Good stuff! Are the two harnesses the big one and the small one, like in the picture here? http://www.autotoys.com/x/cust/produ...?productid=981

If so, I can get these tomorrow, lol.
I don't really see how putting the harness back would work, but hey, you never know. Perhaps if I were to just put constant power onto one of the wires, to see if it lights up?