No dash lights 73 Challenger

[Aa-1159]

No dash lights on 73 Challenger, I had some welding done on trunk lid and found some melted and shorted wires in trunk. Repaired wire  everything was good. Came out to car noticed courtesy lights on then it went out, no dash lights, replaced light switch and dimmer switch, still no dash lights, getting power to dimmer but not to fuse 5
Jumped dimmer blew fuse 4,Jumped to orange wire on back of fuse block blows fuse 4, with no fuse in 5, no power on the 2 orange wires at column, do I have a short

[jimynick]

I'm not a big electrical guy, but if you're blowing fuses, then yes, you likely have a short somewhere. If you have or can beg, borrow or steal a shop manual for your year, they have an extensive electrical section with schematics of all wiring. The main fuse block in the firewall is a notorious problem area. Good luck 

[Aa-1159]

Thanks, I have a wiring schematic

[mrwfp]

I had a '73 Barracuda that had essentially the same problem. Lost tail lights and dash lights. Turned out to be the cigarette lighter that was on the same circuit/fuse.

[Gherry91]

I had a '73 Barracuda that had essentially the same problem. Lost tail lights and dash lights. Turned out to be the cigarette lighter that was on the same circuit/fuse.

We may deal with the same issue on my friend's new '73 Barracuda project. The previous owner's son messed with the wiring causing all dash lights not working. We'll just finish installing the hitch, headache racks, and bed cover on the Silverado tomorrow before we can take her in.