No tail lights on 1994 M Edition
 

I know this is a Mercedes forum, but enough of you seem to have Miatas and nobody over at Miata.net are responding to me so meh here it goes.

I noticed last night that my tail lights are inop but the headlights are functioning properly as they should. Tyler had taken the lower dash panels (kick panels) off and replaced them, and since then the dash light have been out. He thinks it might be an issue with the dimmer switch, but would that also effect the tail lights?

I'm very fluent with Mercedes vehicles (own a 1980 300TD and a 1988 190E) and this is my first Mazda. I love the thing, it's amazing so far!

If anyone can point me in the right direction I'd appreciate it. The fuse will not stop blowing, and I know there is a relay or something I should look in to, but I find it odd that the dash lights and tail lights would go out due to a dimmer switch.

This morning I removed all of the tail lights, parking lights, and dimmer switch so there was nothing connected and it blew the fuse. I replaced all of those lights just because I was already in there, but I did not see any corrosion or short circuits that I could point out.

I switched LA-10 relays up front to see if maybe a bad relay was causing this to happen, but no dice.

Basically I'm not really sure where to even start to trace down a short on this one. I see that this is a common problem, but most have been easily resolved. Mine seems a little more involved.

Do you guys have any idea where I should start looking for shorts/corrosion/etc?

Thanks

I was going to say look at the bulbs; sometime they short out on the inside and blow fuses. but you did that. I would keep looking around the dash area if that is where & when it began. These kind of things can be very frustrating.
If you can unplug all circuits to that section; and plug them in one at a time until the fuse blows; then you have a clue.

It's tight under there.

^That was my next plan of attack. However, I was just tipped off to a light that is located under where my ash tray used to be. I'll have to pull the console (which seems easy) and see if it is there. Chances are it got pinched during the swap and shorted.

Otherwise I'll unplug literally everything and go from there. I thought I had done that already today, but I guess not.

That's exactly where I was going to point you :P The light that is there is pretty much useless even when it is working right (and you have all the right bits for the tray/cupholder in the center console). Dang'd annoying without the cupholder insert if it does work, since you have an unshielded bulb staring you in the face.

See your owners manual to see what is on what electrical run. It is common for the brake lights and the dash lights to be on the same fuse.

That way when your dash lights are out you will fix them since you will see them. Not many people know when their tail lights go out because they are never back there when the car is being driven!

^Right, that's exactly what I'm doing. Did you read the first post?

Anyway, I fixed the lights!!!! It turns out that there was a short caused by the radio. The radio is dead I guess, as the faceplate wont power on but the unit itself will eject and accept a CD. Oh well, I wanted to upgrade anyway...

...now who installed that radio?

Peachparts > Miata.net. M.net is moderated by censoring d'bags who would be better off wrapping their Miatas around a tree.

Agreed, the FIRST POST I got in my "welcome" thread was picking on me. How nice.