If you have a multimeter or were planning to buy one you can use that to measure ground potential and thus telling you where your weak area is, then you have a few options from there. on your multimeter you will either use resistance (the ohms symbol) or the continuity setting (most meters this looks like the speaker out symbol on the back of a computer sound card) they could be the same setting (mine has 2 different settings for these) you will need a good reference ground (for the best reference I would run jumper cables directly to the negative terminal of the battery) while working around the dash I just stick the negative probe of my meter into the ignition switch (this is a direct chassis ground) then I would check bulb sockets and any grounding points (like I said anywhere around either kick panel,behind radio and dash) you want the meter to read as close to 0 as possible I would say up to a 1 is ok anything much more than that I would try to re-tap the ground or add an extra ground (and when you do either one of these take a brush and scrape the metal area until it is shiny) in the back (usually under the truck) there is a ground strap somewhere I would check that area for rust like EVN137 said check the hitch area pretty well.

 

the ground points I have found so far are: for the illumination-
behind left hand and right hand footwell trim panel (panel behind/below hood release lever, and same on other side) and for the rear lights etc,- left and right hand rear of luggage compartment behind panel (close to the bottom of the right and left rear windows, near the tailight) this is from the rave CD I have not actually looked at these.I have the schematics though that say which components use which grounds the dimmer control switch uses left hand footwell.

 

i found that fuse 8 under the steering wheel blows everytime i try to put one in i dont know if that has anything to do with the problem? its a 10a fuse what does it do?

 

http://www.justanswer.com/questions/...scovery-fuse-8i found this with a google search so i am guessing fuse 8 is the problem... what could i try to stop it from blowing or what would be causing it to blow?

 

there is a short in that circiut. something has found an unwanted ground. What does the book say that fuse controls?

 

that is the fuse to control all of those things simple answer if a fuse continues to blow you have a short. finding the short is the hard part. for starters the wires between that fuse and all of the components that aren't working are all red/orange (according to the schematics) if you were up to the challenge of testing these wires you will need a multimeter. and I have to warn you looking at the schematic it looks pretty tricky, this wire literally goes to the dimmer switch and then branches off to every thing that dims with that switch including all dash switches, window switches, and all rear air controls. It does however go to the right front side marker and the right front side lamp as well as the glove box light separate from the dimmer switch (might check those 2 and the dimmer switch first)

 

I see another wire that comes off but not sure where it goes most likely the other side lamps that aren't working.

 

just a thought but my front side lamps have water in them I would imagine if enough water gets in there it would not only corrode those connections but also short them as well may want to check all the external lights for that (if its there you will see it just give the truck a little push and the water will wave back and forth)

 

yeah, that truck neeeds to dry out. attack anything that has obvious issues and electrical conections that may be effected by moisture.

 

Problem solved! It was a bad ground under the footwell trim. Thanks for all of the help... saved me a trip to the dealer!