Well here it goes, thanks in advance. I just bought a cb, and started rig everything up. I first thought that i could use the little light inside my ashtray as a power source. So i cut it, and found out there wasnt enough power to keep the CB on. So then i just found an old cell phone charger and plug it in to the power-point whenver i need it. The problem...my dash lights wont come on. The lights outside work fine, but no dash lights. Also the dim switch doesnt do anything, the clock (which lights do work) stays on bright, it doesnt change with me moving the slider up or down. Any comments? What happened? Did that one wire I cut for that ash tray light screw something up? I havent put the light back, it remains two cables just hanging there. Sorry about the long post.


-The MAN

 

yeah that probably did hurt something, I would atleast tape the wires back together and the check my fuses. That should be your problem you just blew a fuse.
Good luck Joe D.

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Hey Dude,
Tape the wire back.As for your cb,you have 2 options.1)you can either wire it directly onto a fuse in the fuse box or2)run wiring to the battery witha fusable link.Either way,make sure everything is fused and no factory wires are cut.By the way,yes I am a woman but the advice is from my husband....LOL

 

You probably just popped the fuse as Aggie04 and sweetcheeks61 said. ( I just had to type "sweetcheeks" !) The two wires for the ashtray/cupholder lights don't have to reconnected, just make sure they're not shorted. I found this out when I made my new cupholder lights. The ashtray light's voltage is also variable, it's hooked up to the "dim switch", so it won't work for things like a CB.

 

If you cut through both wires (b+ and ground), at the same time, you probably blew fuse # 18 a 5 amp fuse located in the inside I.P. panel fuse box.

You might pick up a hot wire for your C.B., if you have class III towing, from the harness on top of the left inner fender. Use the red 14 or 10 gauge (not sure of size) that runs back to the the towing electrical connector. This wire is switched with the ignition and will carry the draw. I wouldn't use this circuit if you are towing a camping trailer that uses truck power for powering "stuff" in the trailer. You can pick up a ground off the firewall and route both wires inside through the grommet above the gas pedal, if you don't have a manual trans, the grommet will be there.

Good luck,

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Jim H

 

I've installed quite a few CB's and found the cigar lighter hot wire a good place to tap. Just remember to use the right fuse for the CB in line.

 

Like everyone has stated above just go back and check your fuses and I would reconnect the wires. I know this is going to sound weird but here goes. I had an 88 s10 that I was putting an EQ in and thought that I could cut one of the courtesy lamps that shine on the floorboard to use as my power source. To make a long story short the EQ didn't work and I had to reconnect the lamp to make any of the couresy lamps work. I must of not been completing a complete circuit. Good luck, I'm on my own little wiring job right now.

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97 Ford F150 XLT 4wd 4.6L auto, Std cab/Long bed 2 tone royal blue w tan bottom, PW,PL, and PM, captian chairs w/arm rests

Current Mods
K&N Filter
Xact Plug Wires- 8mm
Ventshade side window deflectors,read window deflector, bug guard, headlight and taillight blackouts
custom hand painted Ford emblems on door jamb guards and under hood on plastic intake cover
plastic mud guards
custom 4x4 off road graphics
Ford hitch cover and license plate frame
Custom carpet liner (protects factory carpet)
Slyvania Cool Blue Headlight and fog lamp bulbs
Pioneer 6 disc changer
Whistler 1650 radar detector
oh yeah, one custom dent and scratch from a deer the night before deer season

 

A quick follow up--- i put the two wires back together, got a new fuse, and volia!! The dash works. The help is appreciated. But here is a trick you might like, my friend suggested it and I currently have it on my truck: We used an old cell phone charger and cut the end that plugs into the phone. Stipping the two wires underneath the plastic, we connected them to the Cb's wires. Then all you do is plug it into the 12v and you have power! The best advantage to this is the fact that you can move the cb from vehicle to vehicle (as long as there is a 12v cigarette lighter). Works good, and is a nice temp. solution until i get my bucket seats and console like the expy's have and mount the cb in the console. hope this might help sometime in the future!

--The MAN