I have a 1985 300D, it's my first MB and I've been having a great time fixing all the little issues. I have a problem with the dash/console lights that just cropped up- maybe someone can point me in the right direction?

I installed a new radio, and made the same mistake nearly everyone does and grounded the dimmable radio light wire, causing #1 fuse to blow. I fixed that, bypassed the dimmer, put in new bulbs, put the instrument cluster back, and now I only have lights on the shift indicator. It's BRIGHT and works great, but now everything else is dark. Any advice on where to look first?

I didn't make that mistake, so I can't speak from experience, but perhaps you burned up a trace on the console circuit card as well as blowing the fuse. Pulling it's a pain, but if you burned a trace, you should be able to spot it by inspection pretty easily.

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'83 300DTurbo http://badges.fuelly.com/images/smallsig-us/318559.png

Broadband: more lies faster.

Yup most likely you fried a trace on the cluster for the dash lights.

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The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

Is the shifter light connected to the dimmer, or just the instrument and dash lights? If that's the case, then I for sure have to pull that cluster again.