Driving to the Grampians early on Wednesday morning just about to arrive in Ararat and the dash lights go. Pull over to the side of the road as I know the rear driver tail light is likely out as well. Sure enough it's gone too. Change no 8 fuse which is blown and it goes pow as soon as I turn on the lights, ok I have a short somewhere, bugger I've pulled the wiring apart in previous cars looking for shorts so prepared for the worse.
I remember reading the glove box light can cause this short so I remove the bulb from the casing in the glove box and try another fuse, pop. That's no good. My stereo is aftermarket and I thought I may have a short there. Rather than pull out the whole system I remove the stereo fuse and chuck in another no. 8 fuse. Pop! Bugger. Thought I should at least check the wires in the drivers side rear light housing and I identify a single purple wire (trailer?) that has lost most of its insulation. I taped it up good and proper whack in another fuse and turn the lights on and viola, dash lights and a drivers side rear tail light. The purple wire was obviously shorting on the inside of the body. Trouble shoot took about 20 mins and I'm off. Think I got out of that one cheaply.
