Ok so the other day i had my ftirnd install a cd,fm player in my truck well after i installed it i have no dash lights, my cig lighter doesnt work, im not sure what happen but if sny one could help me out would apprectiate it thank. [/u]

Suggest you get a friend who knows how to do it correctly!

Richard

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Part of Tyrde-Browne Racing

+1 on Fopar's answer. Sounds like your "friend" either (a) blew a fuse or (b) snipped the wrong wire to power the audio equipment.

What is really frustrating about this is that the dash wiring harness in your truck has a factory switched lead specifically intended to power the radio. All your friend had to do was tap into this switched and fused power line. Now, you have to get a wiring diagram, trace what your friend did, undo it, and wire it properly.

According to my 83 Dodge van factory service manual, there should be a plug in the dash wiring harness located about the middle of the radio opening. The plug should have a black wire with a red tracer and an orange wire going to it. These wires are the (+) switched and fused feed for the radio. (The radio grounded through the case by means of a ground strap attached by a nut on the back of the radio. The black wire with the red tracer is NOT the ground! It is the (+) feed, as is the orange wire.) This feed is fused through the same fuse that provides power to the dash lights and cigarette lighter (no surprise). Unfortunately, the wire appears to power the radio before the other accessories, so if your friend cut the wire to power the radio, then you need to uncut it and splice into it.

My advice is to remove the radio, undo the splicing that your friend did, repair whatever wires were cut, then tap into the factory plug to provide power to the radio. You must at least possess a 12 volt test light to do any kind of electrical work on your truck. I also strongly advice you to get a good quality soldering iron and learn how to solder wires together properly. Crimp connectors are OK for speakers, but not really a good idea in a circuit as important as your dash lights.

HOW TO SOLDER

Good luck!

Thanks for the reply reed, and fopar, i really didnt think there would hsve been a problem, he has put three other cd players into other cars and never had a problem, i really just hope its just a blown fuse lol, but probably not. Thanks again.