Rep Power: 0

So yesterday I installed a new radio. I bought one of those adapter things that hooks up to the civic's stock harness and got everything soldered together. But first i accidently connected the wire labeled "dimmer" to the radio harness instead of the wire labeled "illumination" and the radio started smoking as soon as i drove it. I fixed that right away and now the radio works great with no porblems, but for some reason my gauges wont light up when the head lights are on. I replaced all the fuses and double checked all my wires and im pretty sure i have everything hooked up right. Can anyone help?

 
Rep Power: 811

you fried your lighting circuit. you can try and replace all the lil bulbs, but i doubt that would even fix it. there is no fuse for the dash light circuit. that wasnt the deck smoking, it was the climate control pieces.

 
Rep Power: 0

Is there anything I can do myself to fix it or will i have to sell my left arm to pay the dealer to fix it?

 
Rep Power: 307

Check Fuse #2 / 15 Amp in the under hood box.

Unhook all illumination wires from deck.

The illumination dimmer control circuit is part of the gauge cluster.

 
Rep Power: 811

you say your cluster doesnt light up, what about the dash lights? if you did burn out the circuit, the easiest fix would be to replace all the dash climate pieces and buy a new cluster. if you go on ebay, all this can be had for a lil over $100.

 
Rep Power: 0

I checked all my fuses and theyre all fine. All other dash lights work. My odometer lights up, my turn signal lights, seat belt warning light, emergency brake light. It's only the gauge cluster that doesnt light. I might try taking apart the dash this weekend and looking for burnt wires, if i dont see any ill just buy a new cluster. Thanks a lot for your help!

 
Rep Power: 313

its a fuse trust us!

 
Rep Power: 811

before you buy a cluster, check the bulbs in the back they just twist off. might just have burnt all the bulb out. otherwise you could always open up yours and wire in some leds (color of your choice) on a separate circuit. assuming there is nothing else wrong except the lights.

 
Rep Power: 0

A buddy of mine gave me that idea today when i told him how i F'd up my car. And i think that sounds like a good idea. I didnt like the orange light too much anyway. I'll buy a bulb probably tomorrow or wednesday and replace it, if it doesnt work ill try the LED thing. Either way ill be comming back for more assitance. Again, I cant thank you enough for your assistance gearbox.