OK, I have searched the forum and tried everything that I can find. Still no solution. The other night I pulled into the garage, turned off the car and opened the door and heard "ding ding ding". I double checked that the lights were off and the keys were out. Well, the next morning I left for work to see that I had no dash lights. When I got home from work I replaced fuse 9C "battery, cluster, rdo" and the chiming stopped. I went for a short drive and then the dash lights went out again, fuse blew. I got home, turned the car off and went to replace the fuse. It blew as soon as I inserted it. I searched various forums and found that when the dash lights are out, then usually the tail lights are too. Sure enough, no tail lights, or park lights either. I continued to search and found that the culprit is usually the headlight switch. I replaced it with a salvage yard switch, same symptoms, ding ding ding and fuse blows as soon as it is inserted. I talked to a mechanic friend who said he thought it had to be the headlight switch and that I must have gotten a bad one. I ordered a new one and put it in yesterday, same symptoms. Arrrgh!! I have checked the ground connectors under the door sills, and wiring in general. The thing that stumps me is why does the fuse blow when there is nothing on in the car. No lights on but still blows? Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

It would help if we knew what year you were driving.

Before you answer...let me guess that you have a 1995? Pull the switch out and check the connector. How badly melted is it? (This should only be true if you do have a 1995).

If you have a 1995.. please search my user name and headlight switch. Go for the one that says "meltdown". To date that appears to be the best method for fixing the issue.

Sorry, I drive a 1999 Bonneville SLE. I know about the problems with the 1995 and earlier (I also own a 1992 SE). The connector looks great. I don't know if this is related, but while stopped at a light a couple of months ago I noticed my heater blower slowed down slightly and my voltage dropped from 14 to about 11 momentarily. I thought "here goes another alternator". It happened a couple more times but only briefly.

That part is normal on these cars... with enough stuff running.

On the other item. Since you first noticed the dash lights, there'* a decent chance that it'* something to do with the tail light wiring in the trunk. Our wiring in 92-99 is only covered by the liner and open to getting hit by anything rolling around in the trunk. (I need to replace some wiring in mine..lol)

Try pulling the net out and looking at the wiring for each tail to see if it'* cut or touching the sharpish edge where it goes through the body. Hopefully that'* where the short is located.

This is where I am at so far. I was mistaken in stating that it was fuse 9C, it is actually 6C. It blows whether the ignition is on or off. With some help from members of another forum we tried unplugging the headlight switch and the fuse did not blow. Then I started the car and all lights work except the dash lights (because the switch is removed). So on the chance that the new switch is bad, I ordered another new one from NAPA and it will be here Monday. O'Reilly said that they would refund the switch I got from them. I guess I can drive the car without a switch in the interim, just no dash lights. I will use my Tom Tom for speed. Any other suggestions?