The light on dimmer no longer lights ad the switch does not work

check the dimmer switch all power to the headlights go yhrough the dimmer switch

Sounds like that dimmer you ruined
You must turn off power when replacing
And test the wires

If I understand correctly new dimmer is in different box than outdoor switch.
And outdoor switch controls different light than new dimmer.
Both new dimmer and outdoor light are on same circuit breaker, and that breaker is not tripped.

Outdoor problem could be related if loose wire inside dimmer box also feeds over to outdoor switch. More below.
Here's how I would troubleshoot problem.
1) Check outdoor bulb(s). This step can be big time saver.

2) Pull outdoor switch out of box a bit so you can see and test wires.

3) If wires are pushed into quick connects located on back of switch, these connects get loose. Moving switch usually causes loose wire to connect again, so turn switch ON-OFF and see if outdoor lights work. Sometimes switch works fine after quick connects reconnect. If quick connects are bad, use tiny screwdriver in slot next to connect-hole to release wire. And then connect wire to screw terminals on switch. Or replace switch.

4) Turn switch to OFF, use tester and test both screws on switch to bare ground wire. Tester should light up on one screw. If tester does not light up, then switch is not getting power, and that wire has to be tracked back to see where short is.

a) Look if one of the black switch wires is connected to other switch, or connected to other black wires inside same box. This wire might have come loose.
b) Look at white wire inside same box and make sure they are twisted together and covered with wire nut.

c) Now here is where dimmer could be related ... if white wires are joined together in dimmer box, they could have come loose if they were not properly twisted together and covered with wire nut.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-twist-electric-wire.html

5) Turn switch to ON and test again. Tester should light up on both screws. If switch does not light up on both screws, then switch is bad. Replace switch.

Add a comment if you need more help.

To add a second switch to control an existing light, you need to get a 3wire cable between the two switches, Thats red, black, white, green wires in the cable. Then you would have to use two 3way switches to make it work. I posted a "tip" on how to wire the 3way switches ..

Please Vote !!

When dash lights don't work odds are the tail lights don't work either.Sounds like Dimmer switch may be a problem.

The short blew the Lutron. Replace it.

Are you saying you have a dimmer for the fan light and it does not work, or you do not know if the fan came with a dimmer switch?
Most of these fans have two switches; one is for the fan speed(usually three speed) and the other is for the lights(on -off). Adding a Remote control , which is optional for this unit , will allow for remote speed control(variable or three speed), and light dimmer control. The remote controls can be purchased in your local Home Depot or Lowes store. Hope this helps....

My 2003 Elantra had a problem when I would use the turn signals. The dash lights would flicker on and off and if you jiggled the arm of the dimmer switch it would turn the dash lights back on. Over time it got worse. AND little did I know it also made the tail lights and front parking lights flicker on and off!!! So it was not good to say the least.
I took the switch out and opened it up. And inside where the turn signal components moved to make their contact connections, there was a build up of electrical contact grease at the bottom making intermittent contact between two points (I'm assuming gravity and vibration over the years moved the grease down there and built up). I cleaned the excess contact grease from the area. Reassembled the switch. Put back in steering column. No longer having issues.

This dimmer was not made to dim a load smaller than 40VA. That halogen bulb would only have been 20VA or so.

http://www.lutron.com/cms400/PageBuyNow.aspx?id=16977&mn=1815

I think that when your bulb burnt out, the dimmer over-volted the transformer and smoked it. That said, I think you have a fixture problem and, possibly, a switch problem, too.

i found mine at an O'Reilly store but junkyards are good