Let's help diagnose my electric issues

For anyone who knows my name or my truck you'll know I've been MIA and so has the tank. I'm slowly trying to get it back together years later and has served to be so annoying because I don't remember half the stuff I did and the reason behind it. I will go ahead and say let's leave out all the common "check fuses and cables" because I've already been there.

Main issue right now is my instrument panel lighting. It turns on but I can't dim at all. I'm 75% sure this is due to a wire grounding where it shouldn't but finding it is the fun part! I started by pulling the cluster itself out so I could rule that out by watching the HVAC panel. Still isn't dimming. Next I started digging through my wiring harness and to be honest some of this is a mess and I'm incredibly embarrassed by what I did either when I was young and first gotten my truck or as a quick fix in the garage drinking more than I should.

This plug is by the clutch pedal and I have it disconnected and spliced and the wires I spliced go nowhere. At a glance does anyone know what this white plug goes to?


I'm going to end it there until I figure that out. Enjoy the ride?

 

Back of the integration relay/fuse panel?
Take a picture looking straight on of the connector side. Side that plugs in.

 

It's not into the fuse panel. It has an ajoining female connector I just have them disconnected and I'm not sure why but I would if I knew what it went to

 

Hmmm. Have to look at service manual when i get home. Appears its a 3 pin plug?

 

That's correct!
I just found another plug in the same area but it's a lot bigger. Could be something with an auto tranny or something not sure.

Edit: it may have something to do with the courtesy lights. I'm pretty positive of that actually

EDIT 2: can confirm that's for the roof light which I hardwired in the very beginning of me owning my truck. Rule that out as a factor

 

Took apart the dimmer and this could be an issue. One of the connections has burned.
I'll solder it back together but even with the dimmer unplugged all the lights are still full brightness

 

wtf you need a dimmer for? need a copy of the FSM? Should have the wiring diagrams all in it.

 

like this?
see attached pdf file

 

Because my leds in my panel are bright as hell!

 

Thanks man. Already looked through this stuff but I'm stumped. Even on my dimmer switch I manually jumped that broken connection and there was no change.

 

Some were there is a dash light wire white and green that is grounded.

 

What happens if you leave rheostat unplugged? lights still come on bright?

 

Okay I've seen one of these. I need to trace it down.

What exactly is that? At first I was thinking thermostat but I feel that's def not what you meant.

 

rheostat = dimmer

 

Could we get a picture of the other side of the dimmer. If a contact burnt there could be damage to other components (if there are any on there) including the pot. If you have a multimeter I would check that the pot does indeed vary the resistance. I could be damaged and thus you get one set of brightness.

 

No other damaged components on this and yes everything is full brightness when it's unplugged still.

 

Some were a white/green wire is grounded. Either something you hooked up or a wire got pinched

 

Would that same white and green wire be going into the diff lock switch as well?

 

Also, shouldn't this be reading resistance when the lights are on?

 

How about a blue and yellow wire coming out of the back of the instrument panel? I think I snipped that when I was wiring my diff lock light but can't remember and can't seem to find anything online about it.
I'm having no luck here. All my green/white wires seem in tact. just double checked my rheostat again and it seems to be reading resistance.

EDIT: Nevermind, confirmed that's for the diff.