This past weekend I bought a Sony explode radio and had my buddies install it for me bc I'm no good at wiring stuff. Now during this process we were poppin back some cold ones and having a good time. While they were connecting the wires they tied 3 wires together that wasn't going to be used. After all was said and done everything working like it should, I Noticed that my instrument panel didn't come on when I turned my lights on. What gives? Also my running lights dont work, could the problem be bc the 3 wires that were wire nutted together have caused a short somewhere? The 3 wires are 1.illumination 2.dimmer 3.subwoofer. I've changed the fuse multiple times and it keeps blowing them. If u can please help

 

Rule Number ONE - NEVER get the beer out when asking buddies to help UNTIL THE JOB IS DONE!

That being said, the first place to go is your Fuse Box. You haven;t given a year for your truck, but given your symptoms, you are going to find some blown fuses. Get a Haynes or Chilton, Identify the color of the three wires in question, match up the blown fuses and see how the wires connect to the fuses.

You should never connect up wires together without knowing what they do/where they go. You're lucky that you only have lighting issues. It could have been so bad that you were dialing 911 as your truck burned up.

It may cost a bit more, but have professionals handle work you don't know how to do. Half of being smart is knowing what you don't know. Hope you get this sorted out soon.

 

It's an 01 f150. Dude I've changed fuses and read other forums saying that replacing the light switch won't fix the problem. So I have no idea what to do. I guess take it to the dealer if nothing else helps.

 

If things worked correctly before you did the work, then look at what you did. Where were those 3 wires before the radio install? Why did you put them together? Separate them and see what happens after you replace the fuse that keeps blowing. If you wired to the dimmer circuit for the radio or subwoofer power that might be the problem. Run separate power wire circuits for the power hungry items like a sub. Keep the lighting separate. Maybe light beer for this job? ;<)

 

Ok I was told that it was the bright orange wire-illumination. It was on the after-market harness with no wire to connect it to, so we tied them together not thinking about what we were doin. So all I need to do is find out what wire on the ford harness to connect the orange one to. I looked on the web and it looked like it was the light-blue w/ pink line wire but I don't want to take that chance and it not be right. Again my truck is an 01 f150. And as far as the beer goes, never again. Lol