On my 1999 Acura TL, the back lights do not work when the headlights are on. My dashboard illuminator (for the speedometer and gas/temp guages) is not working. The fuse looks okay. I used it on another circuit to test it out. I brought it to a local garage who couldn't find anything wrong. They didn't inspect every wire but did the usual cursory problem checks.

Two related events may have caused this problem: 1.) I installed a new radio (JVC) which works fine. 2). I ran a air compressor for blowing up the tires from the cigaraette lighter. It didn't turn on because the air blower was missing the top part of the plug specifically the fuse and the little metal thing that sticks out. I had also used it on my mini-van which blew out a fuse on that car. That's when I realized why it wasn't working. However, I pulled every fuse on the Acura and didn't see any problems (except my SRS light is on now - I know why!).

I can not directly relate the two events to when my lights went out because I didn't drive at night till about a week later.

You couldn't make this stuff up but does anyone have any clue before I bring it back to a dealer who will not come cheaply?

 

I would say something with teh radio may be hooked up wrong. DOes teh radio have a dimmer wire?

 

Yes but I didn't hook it up. It does have an illuminator wire which I hooked up to the illuminator wire in the car. I think I disconnected the radio but still had the problem. I was trying many things to fix this so I am not absolutley sure on this. Would disconneteing the radio and having the problem still exist remove the radio from the equation? Could i just pull the fuse on the radio vs. physically disconnecting the radio harness?

 

There was a dimmer wire on the radio but not on the car. The radio does have an illuminator wire which I hooked up to the illuminator wire in the car. I called Crutchfield for directions because I didn't know what to do with the extra dimmer wire from the radio. It's just taped off at this point.

 

https://acurazine.com/forums/ramblings-12/anyone-here-played-slient-hill-3-a-135235/

I will try this and let you know.

 

The "little light" fuse was blown. The parking lights now work. The dashboard panel still doesn't work. I have to track down some folks in the above referenced thread to see how they fixed it. He said "I grounded the dash illumination light wire to the ground wire DUH!" Not clear as to what wire he is talking about.