Gauge cluster LEDs no longer working.

[Gippster]

I replaced all of the gauge cluster lights with LED bulbs a year ago. They were all working; the lights would turn on, stay on, no problem. The rig was at the paint shop. They shorted the circuit, popped the 30A fuse (fusable link) from Cruiser Trash, and I replaced the blown fuse on that guy. Likely unrelated, but also, that was the only electrical issue. The gauge was working for two hot minutes, and then nothing.

Things that I've tried:
1. Turning the Rheostat Light Dimmer Switch all the way to the right and left, nothing.
2. Multimeter on the 7.5a fuses, all registering power through, no problem.
3. Headlights, side markers, everything works as expected. No sign of burning wires, nothing obvious sticks out.
4. Gauges all in working order. No malfunction.

What else can I try? Especially since it was working. I'm kind of at a loss.

 

[Lead Head]

I replaced all of the gauge cluster lights with LED bulbs a year ago. They were all working; the lights would turn on, stay on, no problem. The rig was at the paint shop. They shorted the circuit, popped the 30A fuse (fusable link) from Cruiser Trash, and I replaced the blown fuse on that guy. Likely unrelated, but also, that was the only electrical issue. The gauge was working for two hot minutes, and then nothing.

Things that I've tried:
1. Turning the Rheostat Light Dimmer Switch all the way to the right and left, nothing.
2. Multimeter on the 7.5a fuses, all registering power through, no problem.
3. Headlights, side markers, everything works as expected. No sign of burning wires, nothing obvious sticks out.
4. Gauges all in working order. No malfunction.

What else can I try? Especially since it was working. I'm kind of at a loss.

How did they short the circuit?

 

[Gippster]

How did they short the circuit?

I have a anti-theft harness, the bare wires made connection when they were starting it.

 

[Lead Head]

I have a anti-theft harness, the bare wires made connection when they were starting it.

What about the lights for the cigarette lighter and aux switches? Glovebox light?

 

[Gippster]

Non-functional all the way through.

 

[Lead Head]

This wiring diagram I have seems to suggest that the 15A "TAIL" fuse does the dash lights, and not the 7.5A "GAUGE" fuse.

 

[Gippster]

Figured it out. It was the dimmer.

 

[Gippster]

I retract my comment:

1. I replaced the switch, and it worked totally fine on battery.
2. I finally turned the ignition on today and drove it around the block with the lights on.
3. And almost immediately, the gauge cluster lights went out, back to the same exact issue.

Also correct, not the gauge fuse, it's the tail. I bypassed the dimmer; it worked for a moment before I popped the tail fuse, so that much I now know. I won't do that again.

Is there anything else I can try? I feel at my wits' end.

 

[Lead Head]

There's nothing more to it than you have a short. You're going to need to start looking for bare or melted wires under the dash, down the sides of the vehicle and into the rear quarter panel with the brake lights.