Dash Panel keeps going out Options

[georgie]

For the last week i've had my the light for my dash go out. It is the fuse that's being tripped but I can't figure out why, the 'panel' 7.5A fuse keeps tripping. I'll have it work and driving along my dash lights go out.

The speedo/tach still works but i can't see it unless i put a light to it.

I've gone through about 6 fuses so far, no clue why it's doing this. Anybody have any clues?

[seecha80]

think back about everything you've done to the car right before it started happening. did you make any electrical changes? switch stereo, change bulbs, replaced something? anything that would have to do with electrical system? if so, go and switch it back and see if that does anything. if not then it's probably something with your wiring. if you can figure it out, then my only suggestion would be to buy aftermarket dash lights that will shine right into your cluster so you can see all that stuff.

[georgie]

the only thing i did recently is switch the suspension, NO electrical was touched... im thinkin maybe the cig lighter is doing something, but the 15A fuse for the cig never tripped once, just my 'panel' fuse. I was thinking it could because my suspension is crazy stiff now that i bounced something around inside.

Worse comes to worse i'll take the dash out and have a look but I have no clue what im looking for and have never taken the dash apart, also it's cold nowadays and I don't want to be outside for hours with my car in pieces (i have limited time as we only have space for 3 cars on the driveway, so when my mom & dad come home I'd have to move mine back in the garage, which is a single and wayy too small to work in (can barely open my doors))

I'll get some more fuses in the meantime and try to think of anything else that's been done... but I'm 99% sure I haven't changed anything.

[njccmd2002]

something is making a short. do you have a leak? look for the radio wiring, or any other things you may have done, even if it was couple months ago.

somtimes things come loose.

are you running any lights like neon, led bulbs, anything that can short. check it.

[d3ath2009]

mine did this too over the summer.. at first i could smack the dash and everything would work, then one side quit. its not a fuse, its the bulbs in the back of the dash, you can get em at a toyota dealer for like $6 a piece, but if you replace one you should replace all three at the same time. i made the mistake of getting one, then realized how dim it made my others look. i ended up getting 2 more, but now my dash is 2 shades of green

[georgie]

so the bulbs are creating the short? it doesn't do one side or another though, its either all on or off.
is it alot of work to take the cluster out?

[d3ath2009]

so the bulbs are creating the short? it doesn't do one side or another though, its either all on or off.
is it alot of work to take the cluster out?

the bulbs arent really causing a short... there are 3 main bulbs in the back of the dash and it sounds like one of yours is about ready to blow if it hasnt.. im assuming they are still the stock bulbs which means they are about due for replacement anyway... if memory serves me right, you pop off the plastic around the ignition and under the steering wheel. then u have to take the clear plastic piece off, thats like 2 screws. then i think theres just 4 more around the dash. oh and you have to disconnect a few plugs, but they are obvious once you get into it. im a bit of an amateur, and i figured all this out in about 20 min the first time i did it.

[georgie]

Would that explain why the fuse keeps going?
I'll try to do that this weekend if I don't figure anything else out before then.

I'll also check my deck wiring, but I did that in june or july and I soldered+shrinkwrapped all the wires so I doubt that's it.

Thanks for all the replies so far