So I was too lazy to disconnect the negative battery terminal while I was trying to connect my new head unit's backlight dimmer control to the switch that controls the interior illumination. Figured it wasn't worth the five minutes.

Predictable result: I crossed a wire somehow and blew the "INT ILL" fuse. I replaced the fuse, but the switch still appears not to work. The car doesn't turn on the gauge lights or dim the clock when the headlights are switched on. (This is the same way the lights behave when the switch is completely disconnected.)

I don't think I could have fried the switch itself, as it was disconnected at the time of the fuse blowing. Is there another fuse somewhere which could also have gone?

 

what the hell are you talking about? installing a stereo?

 

Yes. With a lead to connect to the car's interior light dimming control. The stereo doesn't even really matter.

 

i did the same thing i tapped it into a light circuit way back when. pull up a chair, take a seat, and start checking fuses, it was some random fuse that happens to be on the same circuit that blew, i had to check almost all of them, and its not the int ill fuse. keep looking, you'll find it. i thought i checked all of them, i drove for 2 weeks with a flashlight taped to my steering column and i decided to check them again, and i found him! too bad i dont remember which one ...sorry

 

Outstanding, I figured someone here had seen the same thing before. Thanks.

Was it at least a fuse in the interior fuse box?

 

yea in the car by the hood pop, sorry it took so long to get back you. it sucked so bad, i thought i had checked all my fuses but i found him after a little while. i accidentilly touched the wires in the circuit from the ashtray light. i had wired LEDS into my air vents that came on only with the lights, and i had a switch for when i get pulled over at night, i dont feel like getting bit**ed at for a stupid led. so in the course of wiring it, i set it up fine, and one day i go to add a few more leds to it, and i touched the wires, same thing as what you got, the clock wont dim, and no int. ill lights work, no heat/ac lights, no gauge lights. i say just check all your fuses, i think its different than the int ill fuse.

btw, your now a Maxima enthusiast like me! 50 posts!

 

Damn, I just pulled every fuse in the car and they're all fine. Maybe I cooked the switch somehow?

 

ok wait what were u trying to tap into the dimmer for anyways ?
i read the OP but dont get ur description. here is what i know: u install a deck and want to wire something to the dimmer to make it DIM when u want to but what r u wiring up man ?

 

The stereo's back lighting will dim when you turn on the headlights -- like the stock unit does -- if you connect a lead from the stereo to the interior dimmer control.

It's a little thing, but I figured, it's there, so I might as well hook it up... in hindsight, it wasn't worth it.

 

i got an aftermarket deck and nothing dims when the headlights turn on, the stock digital clock--yes that dims, but not the stereo

 

Yeah, I didn't even know you could do this with an aftermarket head unit. I found it in the deck's manual.

 

well i can dim mine manually, there is an option in the deck menu so i would not have to tap into any dimmers even if i wanted to, im sure all aftermarket decks have this option, i have not seen a deck without it

 

i highly doubt you popped the switch. Are you 100% sure none of the other fuses are blown? If the switch had been disconnected i would say check the wires between the switch and the guages and look for a burn/melt/etc...

 

I got an aftermarket stereo with dimmer control, in your case I suggest disconnecting that wire see if it works, or if your wire has a slit in it somewhere. I had the same thing happen, somehow the wire insulator got a little stripped and was touching a ground.