I have just installed my new center heating and cooling vent on my dash with the clock and connected all of my wires in it, but the hazard lights and the defroster buttons don't light up when I have my park lights on. I have checked my wirings and the connections, but what else can there be?

 

Burned out lights?? By new do you mean *NEW* or new to you?

 

By checked the wiring and connections, do you mean you checked for power to the bulbs from the harness with a multimeter? Also did you check the resistance across the bulbs themselves? It's page EL-75 in the 97 FSM.

 

I did not use the multimeter, I just reconnected the wire harness to the hazard switch and the defroster switch. If I press the buttons on they work, but the display lights are not working, so I can't tell what is what when I am driving at night. I have a haynes manual if that will do any help.

 

Haynes manuals usually have wiring diagrams IIRC. Or you could grab your year Max's FSM from here. Find the pins in the hazard lamp switch and the rear defroster switch that power the illumination lights. With the switches disconnected, check for power when you turn on the parking lamp circuit, and check for continuity in the lamps themselves. The lights either are not getting power, or the filaments are broken. Third and less likely option is that there is a bad connection in the plug.

 

If I have a bad connection in the plug, If I wiggle the wires with the lights on and wouldn't I see the lights turn on and off as If I have a loose connection or a faulty wire in the harness. If I have a bad filament can I replace the bulbs or I will have to buy the whole new switch.

 

You won't necessarily see any difference just by playing with the harness or connector, it could still be a bad connection.

Search for LED replacement for those switches, you'll see how to swap out the lights or replace them with LEDs.