I've got a 2001 Tahoe. I was installing a stereo with a Scosche wiring harness. On it, there are a couple of wires that were not compatible to the stereo I have. One such wire is for the dimmer switch system. While putting the stereo back into its space. The protective wrapping I placed at the end of that wire came off and the wire shorted out the dimmer system on the stereo body.

I am not trying to find a fuse that controls the dimming system on the Tahoe and I CANNOT FIND ONE!!! I have checked every fuse that I can find that might possibly be connected to the illumination, interior lighting... Even Daytime Running Lights... But no fuse seems to be the one for the dimmers. My instrument panel will light up when I toggle the little wheel that controls the dimmer, all the way up to the on position. This however, WILL ALSO turn on ALL of the lights in the cabin, and the dome override does not turn them off when the dimmer wheel is all the way on. THEN, when I wheel it down, there is no longer any illumination on the dash lights. No dimming effect AT ALL!

Where is there a fuse or a wire that can be replaced to bring the dimming back and provide illumination on the dash without having to turn on all of the cab lights?!?! This seems like it should be such a simple thing.... But, nope.

 

On many vehicles, the dashboard illumination lights are intentionally put on same circuit as front marker lights, tail lights, and license plate lights, to indicate to a driver that the lights circuit has an issue. So check those others too.

Since fuses blow by excessive amps, and dimmer switches adjust the electricity to the dash lights, pretty common to have no fuse on that dash dimmer part of the circuit. I actually had that part of the circuit go bad and burn the dimmer wires on my 1970 VW at the Phoenix Zoo back in 1976, wired those up to be on full when the ignition or headlights are on (can't remember), and it's still like that to this day.

 

I had a similar Issue to this on my 2004 suburban. I would have to hit the dash, steering wheel, or just slam the wheel up and down to get them to come on again. I bought a replacement dimmer switch module and it stopped. Opened up the old dimmer module and found a bunch of dirt and gunk on the contacts.