S13 Bypassing The Dimmer Switch

[KiLLeR2001]

Well, a few days ago on my drive home from work my gauge cluster and hvac illumination lights went out without warning. So I'm thinking its the TCU box since its a common thing with S13's, replaced with another and no change. My next step is bypassing the dimmer switch, but I'm not exactly sure how, I want to completely eliminate it from the cars wiring schematic just so that my illumination lights are always full bright, since I never use the dimmer anyways. Much help would be appreciated. And I checked for blown fuses and found none.

Just to clarify here are a list of things that work / don't work.

Things that work:

Headlights still work, brights work, Hazard lights, turn signals, brake lights... all of this works perfectly fine. Gauge cluster clock back light works 100% as well as the rest of the gauge cluster (except illumination).

Things that DONT work (when combo switch is on 2 or 3):

Gauge cluster illumination, hvac illumination, side markers don't light up, tail lights don't light up (but brake lights work).

[igreek]

I'm having the exact same symptoms, but for different reasons. I removed the dash and when I put it back, I realized that I misplaced the dimmer switch. I'll have to find one, or maybe it can be bypassed.

Anyone know?

[Tokona-x]

you should be able to just loop the wires to get them to be bright all the time

[KiLLeR2001]

Yeah, I'm just wondering which wires need to be hooked up accordingly.

edit: Now that I think about it, my dimmer switch NEVER worked in the first place, ever since I've had my car, but the illumination lights worked.

[KiLLeR2001]

Did a bit more searching around, going to try grounding the Red w/ yellow stripe wire when I get home (from the TCU box).

Edit: Damn I feel dumb. I went to check all of my fuses again in the left kick panel before grounding the red/yellow wire and low and behold the "Stop Lamp" #18, 15A fuse was blown. Put a new one in and everything works again. Now I need to figure out why it blew in the first place, I've turned all the lights on and drove the car around and it didn't blow so I wonder.