pootie tang

My dashboard light stopped working about a month ago it happened a few days after having an aftermarket radio installed (don't know if it's the reason but thought i'd mention it).
At one point when i was turning on my headlights at night i noticed that my dash lit up for a split second, once the headlight switch has been pulled out completely my headlights turn on fine but my dashboard is completely off. Then i realized a few days later my taillights were not working either.
The weird thing is that if i pull the light switch slightly out (not all the way out, kinda leave it in between 'on' and 'off') my dashboard light will turn on and my taillights as well (but since it's not pulled out all the way my headlights won't turn on).
Once i pull the switch all the way out my headlights turn on (as they should) but my dash and tail lights will turn off.
I visually checked the fuses and they seemed fine, I checked the light bulbs and they look fine (and they are fine because they do turn on when the switch is slightly pulled out) What should i check for next?

jonjon99xj

find another headlight switch from a salvage/junk yard and see if that fixes it

Bustedback

Your new stereo is hooked up to the instrument panel lighting dimmer circuit and the fuse is now blown. Pull the stereo out and disconnect the dimmer circuit from the radio and replace the fuse.

pootie tang

The fuse that i'm suppose to replace is in the dimmer circuit? Because i already checked the dashboard fuse (5 amp fuse under passenger side) and it looked fine. I'll try disconnecting the radio after work to see if i can find anything wrong in there.

redmuck

you probably hav a bare wire touching behind the radio. grounding out.