Keep blowing dash light/ radio fuse

[Johnny]

I could use a little help. Even my Jeep dealer does not want to work on this.

One day the dash light and radio work. The next day they don't. Blows 10a fuse. Replaced fuse several times and it blows each time I start car. All other electrics work. Interesting that now when I turn on the headlights the clock and thermometer both go off but on again when the headlights a switched off.

One mechanic thinks its the radio but why would that happen all of a sudden and what's with the clock and thermometer? Radio is 1 yr. old Blaupunkt wired into the original Jeep harness. Worked fine for a year.

I'm thinking headlight switch but what do I know? Any hints before I take out the radio?

Thanks.

[jeepstruck]

I'd check the wires to the radio and headlights. Check for nicks in the wire, sounds like you are grounded somewhere.

[Chrome]

I agree. If the Blaupunkt deck has a wire that attaches to the factory lighting in order to dim the deck lights then try unhooking it then install a fuse. Another thing several vehicles use 2 wires to illuminate thru the radio harness, try pulling the deck completely out and checking all wires around the radio area to see if a wire is nicked or completely cut.

[coolram]

Also on the '89 is the cigerette lighter on the same circuit?jeep cjenged the harness for '89 so I don't know.My g/f had this problem and it was a penny that had fallen in the lighter socket.

[Johnny]

Okay, I took out the radio and found that some of the electrical tape was coming off. I replaced the tape and whammo, the fuse went in and the radio works. BUT... the dash lights still don't come on. Is there a seperate fuse for the dash lights? I can't find a fusebox diagram. Thanks everybody.

[andy d]

http://www.geocities.com/grand_wagoneer1989/1988_GW_wiring_Diagrams.html

[coolram]

Good you got your radio working.Whe i got my '88 almost all the bulbs were burnt out in the dash.Have you checked this?Does the dash switch for dimming/brightening the dash lights and turning the overhead lights work(does it turn the domelights on?).Do your exterior lights all work with no problem?Could be a bad light switch.There maybe a separate fuse for the dash lights that's blown.The '89's wire harness is completly different from the '88

[Johnny]

Coolram - Everything that you mentioned works escept the dash lights. Exterior, interior, roof. Haven't tried to change bilbs. Do you think they all blew at the same time?

How do I reach them. Under the dash or throught the front? Thanks.