I spent the day trouble shooting this same problem on my 97 F150. Assumed right away that my instrument cluster bulbs were out. Pulled everything apart to replace them, ended up not solving the problem. Went through all of the fuses that related to lamps/ illumination. Still nothing. And then came across this video and the comments!! Ended up being my parking and tail lamps fuse (Position 7), in the power distribution box. Grateful for this video and comments. Cheers :)

Found the issue on mine. Check the fuse for the p/k lamps on the inside of your car. Initially thought it was just the fuse for the illumination but it wasn't. This video definitely helped and gave me more insight on other stuff I should check.

Literally every problem you described is not a problem. Your headlights have an auto feature and will remain on when the key is on unless you cancel it. You can cancel it by hitting dome override three times quickly. The dash lights, much like your odometer, has a brightness funtion via the roller. It turns on when the headlights are turned all the way on. If the roller is all the way down it will be almost off. The radio does not dim with the dimmer switch, it dims via a orange wire that gets power when the headlights are on. Its up to the original owner or installer to decide if he wants that function hooked up or not. The radio install is not a bad job. The extra wires are fine. He should have used an adapter harness but all is well, the extra wires are for funtions that your aftermarket radio may not have Like steering wheel control, dimmer, can bus, factory amps, etc.

under that headlight switch is a button. press that button a couple times and it will switch headlights to off. and then then when you turn that switch you can control on/off. it like an "always on" or "on/off switch" modes. smashing that button switches between the 2. and for the odometer lights, to the right of that headlight switch is a rolling thing. up or down. that switches from blackout mode to whatever brightness you want for night driving. you might have it on all blackout mode. took me 8 months owning my gmc sierra before figuring that out. right now my horn fuse keeps blowing and reverse lights not working.

I found the problem on one the fuse box on the driver side In side the cab the fuse labeled TBC 2b was blown and mine was doing the exact same thing as yours hope this helps

Hey guys so I just had the same problem mine wasn't the switch but it was a 20 amp fuse for the parking lights. I had no lights on the dash and my tail light's did not go on but my turn signal was good and also my brake lights.

Try replacing the Headlight switch its was only 33.51 on Amazon and worked for me. My dashboard light and AC /Heat light did not turn on at night so I replaces the Headlight switch $33.51 for my 2001 Yukon and now all dashboard and AC/Heating light work now.

The Yellow wire, which is top row third from the left in the cluster connector should have power but does not. I tore the entire dash out and could not find an issue, so, I spliced in a wire to the yellow and put a switch in running off of the cigarette lighter for now. I checked every fuse on both panels and all are good. All bulbs on the entire truck are good as well. 2007 Savana 2500. Really seems like a fuse or relay but there is zero info out there about this issue. As I discover, I will update this post and eventually make a video about it.

Reading this thread I’ve come to the conclusion that no one has any clue on how the heck to solve these issues 😂

also, those extra wires on your radio harness are probably just for other speakers or for other features on the radio. The blue white striped one is a remote/signal wire. Only use it for a "power antenna" that requires a "remote signal" to tell the antenna to turn on when the radio turns on. Same explanation for an amplifier for a subwoofer. I would pull that trim panel off though and make sure the connector is in the light switch.

having problem with instrument panel back lights not working radio lights go out when headlights are on

I’m having the same issue on a 02 GMC Sierra. After looking into it I believe mine is due to the previous owner having switched all the lighting on the truck to leds which is great however they had used 3157 led bulbs in the ck sockets rather than using the correct leds the 3157ck. They will work momentarily in the incorrect sockets however the ck sockets will blow the standard bulbs and fuses. If those are the fuses that you guys are finding blown,this might be worth looking into. I ordered the correct bulbs however still not sure if that’s going to make the cluster illuminate or if I’m going to have to rip that open and change some parts in there. Hopefully this helps some of you guys.

I had the same thing in my 2001 gmc and i replaced the headlight switch and it fixed it.

A lot of comments without answers. This comment from a forum post may help some people : Hey guys, I had a customer come in with the same issue. So I took apart the whole dash even the radio so that I could check every cable with my Power Probe. In the end I discovered that there was a little white wire from the switch that would go to the cluster and that was suppose to light it up. As I fluted the switch it would go from ground to 12v behind the switch, but not the cluster. So then i moved on to the wiring on the radio. On the radio aftermarket plug and play harness there were two orange cables, one with a white stripe and one fully orange. With the Power probe I ran 12v to the orange with white and the cluster came on. So in the end I ran a T-tap from the little white cable behind the switch to the orange and white cable on the radio, and I was able to turn on the cluster with the switch. www.silveradosierra.com/threads/2001-sierra-instrument-cluster-not-lighting-up.83226/

I've gone through this problem recently and figured out how to diagnose and fix .First check wiring starting from light switch and follow it. Is possible 1 or more of wires have arched together and caused the problem .hopefully you can catch that before it fuses together causing further damage. If that's is the case replace harness. Also check and make sure all fuse are correct incorrect fuses may overload causing frequent blows. Loose wires in the harness may also be the problem. This was my problem causing only my gauge backlights to be off.

if anyone needs help just ask justice barnette he knows what he is doing!

JUSTICE THANK YOU SO MUCH! THIS MAN IS A BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE! AWESOME GUY!

Thank you for the advice great help

I just saw a video and the guy said that if ya have a tail light out or something that might be the problem. I got to find out. I did an oil change today on my 2000 GMC Sierra that i just got and CarX said I needed brake up lights. I wished i wouldve had them put them in. I will prob go back tomorrow and have them do it and see if my dash lights start working again! I just thought I could replace a bulb but Autozone wants $7 dollars for the set and KZfaq videos are talking me everywhere. lol

I have to fix mine..does the same thing...but my 2002 has driver and passenger and the fuse panel under the hood

I just brought the same truck and it have the same problem. No one can seem to know whats going on.

I guess the switch is possibly bad??

might be the actual switch you are turning.. seeing how there is an aftermarket headunit installed, maybe they forgot to plug in the connector to the switch... I know you said you checked the fuses but use a test light on each end of the fuse or pull them up and replace them if they look bad (drivers side panel again). If you are positive it isnt the above suggestions then maybe the bulbs in the cluster are all out. Which usually doesnt make sense for them ALL to go at once,

I have yet to pull the panel it's self. But i can try! and no, GM all the way :)

have you gotten this fixed? a couple of other things you might want to look for is trying to plug up to a scan tool. im not talking about a code reader from autozone... i'm talking about the $4000 snap on one that some shops have. if you can not communicate with it you have shorted something out. my dash does the same thing so to turn it back on i took a staple and on my obd2 port i grounded the #4 and #5 port to each other. something to think about....

Hi guys, i have the same problem and is driving me crazy, are you guys were able to fix it?? please help. god bless

I have same problem on honda odyssey, but thats due to my DASH LIGHT (Illumination) wire is not connected to anything on stereo. New stereo does not have it. So check if your dash light illumination wire is connected and if there is something to connect it to on your radio harness. On honda it is Orange color wire

I just changed out to a pioneer radio yesterday and the exact same issue is happening with me, I highly doubt it’s the switch and I’m leaning toward an incorrect wire was either spliced incorrectly or it isn’t even connected at all. Let me know your findings!

Same problem no dash lights or ac control lights

I am having this same problem, but cannot find the resolution. I have replaced the dimmer switch and checked all of the wire connections. The instrument cluster works fine, it is only the backlights that do not work. Please help

check your fuse and then your light switch.

I don't have a wire that says illuminate what does it look like ????

did you find a solution? I am having the same problem!

did you figure out what the problem was??? im having the same issue with my 94 Chevy Cavalier

When I called the dealer they said it was headlight switch my dash lights lights up when I activate the interior lights, replace the he'd switch I got mine at Amazon 40.00 dollars the dimmer part of the switch was defective

My 2002 has the same problem no instrument lights but when I turn on the interior lights the instrument lights light up, when I Called the dealer

I'v tried the hit and bump no luck haha! It used to have a FOB but it broke and the guy never said if he took the alarm out or not.

I cant find the number 8 fuse in my 2001 gmc

I’m having the exact same problem did anyone end up figuring it out?

did anyone ever find a solution to this???

the blue wire is your remote so when you shut of your sterio so will your amp I take it you don't have an amplifier hooked up to it right.

Same problem I just tell the glass in front of it

the dimmer doesn't really dim the radio does it? I have the same truck with an aftermarket stereo and I don't really see if it does I know it lights up blue, then my cluster had blue led bulbs that match the stereo so that looks cool... I changed out my bulbs that wasn't that hard at all

Same shit happened to me dealership just jumped power to it and said leave it alone dimmer switch doesnt work said something to with that. Have a 2002 chevy malibu with after market cd player

working on 2001 sierra

hit the dash and see if that works LOL, also it may because it had or has an alarm system installed. alarm systems cause tons of electrical problems once they start to fuck up

please help me im having the same exact problem,i have a 02 chevy avalanche z71 help me pleeeeeeaaaaassssseeee,thanks in advance!

check grounds

All you gotta do is change the head light switch and problem fix

maybe a blown fuse

Blue I'd remote

Same problem

aki los hasemos que prendan

Useless video,,to cheap to buy a harness for radio ,,,,thats your problem