Hey folks, I have 1985 190e. I replaced the factory radio in the process got the illumination wire mixed up and blew the fuse to the dash lights and consul lights. I have since replaced the fuse and found the bulb for the speedo and such was also blown. On top of that he consul lights no longer work.

Now I have pulled the dash out replaced the bulbs but it seems I no longer have power getting into the cluster. All the power checks out to the dash but nothing is powering up once everything is connected. I have checked all the usual suspects light dimmer and such. This model does not have a fuse in the cluster as far as I can see.

Now the light on the shift works when you turn the lamps on but nothing else connected to head lights. Makes it a real problem driving at night. Have I destroyed the driving light electronics in the dash while connecting a new radio? Any ideas. Cheers from Australia.

Yes, you have destroyed the cluster....BUT it's fixable.

The radio's illumination wire is controlled by the cluster's dimmer circuit. You most likely shorted this wire & BURNT a trace (skinniest one) on the circuit board due to no fuse on the dimmer circuit.

All you have to do is solder a wire & bridge this burnt trace.
See attached pic, I have soldered a wire to bridge the burnt trace on mine.

Attached Thumbnails

 

Thanks for that. I wish I read this early today. What I ended up doing is this. As you will see it has caused more problems. The number 13 position on the main connector to the cluster had power for dash lights. The dimer control was dead as in the power was not getting to it. I cut the number 13 wire removed the dimmer switch and hard wired them for the dash lights. It worked wonderfully. Now I have connected everything back together and my fuel gauge, oil pressure light and oil pressure gauge doesn't work.

I figure it all is connected to me bypassing the circuits on the dash. Your thoughts on this would be good. Cheers.