Installed a dimmer switch to a light. Put power back on and the light came on. Wouldn't dim however and when I turned it off it would not come back on. fuse is OK

Before you start replacing parts ,need a little more information . Maybe able to save you some time an money . Does the horn work when you push the horn button , does the air bag light stay lit in the instrument cluster ? The button lights for the bottons on the steering wheel are lit by the BCM - body control module . Interior Lamps Dimming
The second group includes lamps which may be dimmed. This group may use a combination of vacuum fluorescent (VF) illumination and incandescent lamps.
When the ignition switch is turned to the RUN position, the radio's vacuum fluorescent (VF) displays turn on at maximum brightness. When the park lamps are on, all incandescent back lighting turn on at the dimming level indicated by the I/P dimmer switch. At the same time all vacuum fluorescent (VF) displays dim to match the indicated dimming level. The panel dimmer switch potentiometer is an input to the BCM. When the driver selects a dimming setting by moving the I/P dimming switch potentiometer, all incandescent back lighting lamps are provided with a specific voltage. When the I/P dimmer switch is moved from MIN to MAX, all vacuum fluorescent (VF) displays, as well as all incandescent back lighting respond from minimum intensity to maximum brightness in response to the I/P dimmer switch.
The following switches and components have back lighting when the park lamps are on:
• The instrument panel cluster (IPC)
• Radio, front and rear
• Window and heated seat switches
• Garage door opener switch
• Selectable ride switch
• Roof beacon switch
• Power take off (PTO) switch
• Headlamp leveling switch
• Rear wheel steering mode select switch
• HVAC control assembly
• Headlamp and panel dimmer switch
• Transfer case shift control switch
• PSIR disable switch
• PRNDL lamps
• Traction control switch
• Steering wheel control switches
• Fog lamp switches

Could be the clock spring inside the steering coulmn ,under the steering wheel if horn doesn't work ,air bag light lit etc...

. The illumination is controlled by the BCM - body control module .
Interior Lamps Dimming
This group includes lamps which may dim. This group may use a combination of vacuum fluorescent (VF) illumination and incandescent lamps.
• HVAC control module, head assembly
• Rear HVAC control module, head assembly
• Radio
• Rear seat Audio
• The instrument panel cluster (IPC)
• The PRNDL lamp, with the exception of the current gear select position
• Power window switches
• Various switches
When the ignition switch is turned to the ON position, the VF display, radio, turns ON at maximum brightness. When the park lamps are ON, all incandescent back lighting turn ON at the dimming level indicated by the instrument panel (I/P) dimmer switch. At the same time all VF displays dim to match the indicated dimming level. When the headlamp switch is placed in the PARK position, the park lamp supply voltage circuit provides an input to the body control module (BCM). The BCM then supplies voltage to the I/P dimmer switch through the I/P dimming lamps control circuit. The setting of the I/P dimmer switch determines the amount of voltage that the I/P dimmer switch supplies to the BCM through the I/P dimming lamps low reference circuit. The BCM then sends a pulse width modulation (PWM) voltage to all the interior lamps. All the VF and incandescent back lighting lamps are provided a specific voltage and are then grounded. When the headlight switch is turned to the park lamp or headlamp position, all incandescent back lighting turn ON at the dimming level indicated by the I/P dimmer switch. When the I/P dimmer switch is moved from MIN to MAX, all VF displays, as well as all incandescent back lighting respond from minimum intensity to maximum brightness in response to the I/P dimmer switch.


Do you know what DTC'S - diagnostic trouble codes are ? Codes set in the BCM
DTC B2610 00: Passenger Compartment Dimming 1 Circuit
DTC B2615 00: Passenger Compartment Dimming 2 Circuit
DTC B2652 00: Passenger Compartment Dimming 3
Circuit/System Description
The instrument panel (I/P) lamp dimmer switch is used to increase and decrease the brightness of the interior backlighting components. The I/P dimmer switch provides a voltage signal that will increase as the brightness of the lights are increased and decrease as the brightness of the lights are decreased. The body control module (BCM) provides a low reference signal and a B+ voltage reference to the I/P dimmer switch. When the I/P dimmer switch is placed in the desired position, the dimmed voltage setting is applied from the I/P dimmer switch through the I/P dimmer switch signal circuit to the BCM. The BCM interprets the signal and applies the dimmed voltage to the I/P lamps supply voltage circuit and the interior backlighting components dim to the requested level. Ground for the I/P dimmer switch is provided at G201.

sunroof fuse 1 20amp / power windows - circuit breaker 25 amp
both of these are located in the instrument panel fuse box .

Back lighting or warning lights ? check engine , ABS , air bags , seat belt , oil light etc... ?
Interior Lamps Dimming
The second group includes lamps which may be dimmed. This group may use a combination of vacuum fluorescent (VF) illumination and incandescent lamps.
• Power window switches
• HVAC control head assembly
• Radio
• The instrument panel cluster (IPC)
When the ignition switch is turned to the ON position, the vacuum fluorescent (VF) display (radio) turns on at maximum brightness. When the park lamps are ON all incandescent back lighting turn ON at the dimming level indicated by the IP dimmer switch. At the same time all vacuum fluorescent (VF) displays dim to match the indicated dimming level. When the headlamp switch is placed in the PARK position, the park lamp supply voltage circuit provides an input to the body control module (BCM). The BCM then supplies voltage to the instrument panel dimmer switch through the instrument panel dimming lamps control circuit. The setting of the instrument panel dimmer switch determines the amount of voltage that the instrument panel dimmer switch supplies to the BCM through the instrument panel dimming lamps low reference circuit. The BCM then sends a pulse width modulated (PWM) voltage to all the interior lamps. All the vacuum florescent (VF) and incandescent back lighting lamps are provided a specific voltage and are then grounded. When the headlight switch is turned to the PARK or HEADLAMP position, all incandescent back lighting turn on at the dimming level indicated by the IP dimmer switch. When the IP dimmer switch is moved from MIN to MAX, all vacuum fluorescent (VF) displays, as well as all incandescent back lighting respond from Minimum intensity to maximum brightness in response to the IP dimmer switch.

I would have it checked for DTC'S - diagnostic trouble codes stored in the BCM !
DTC B2624 Display Dimming Input Range/Performance
The body control module (BCM) supplies voltage to the instrument panel dimmer switch through the instrument panel dimmer switch signal circuit. The dimmer switch varies the voltage and returns the new voltage to the BCM through the dimmer switch signal return circuit. The BCM uses this voltage to determine the illumination level of the instrument panel lamps.

DTC B2625 Display Dimming Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) Output Circuit Range/Performance
The body control module (BCM) receives a variable voltage from the instrument panel (I/P) lamp dimmer switch. The BCM uses this signal in order to vary the illumination level of the I/P lamps. The I/P dimming lamps output from the BCM is a pulse width modulated voltage supply used to light the I/P lamps. If a malfunction occurs in the I/P dimming lamps output circuit, this DTC is set.

DTC B2662 Park Lamp Switch Circuit Malfunction
The park lamps are controlled by the turn/headlamp switch. Positive battery voltage is supplied to the switch through the EXT LP fuse. When the turn/headlamp switch is placed in the park or head position, battery voltage is supplied to the park lamps. The body control module (BCM) is also connected to the park lamp circuit to sense whether or not the park lamps turn ON when the low beam or high beam headlamps are turned ON. The BCM also uses the parklamp battery positive voltage to power the instrument panel (I/P) dimmer output circuit. If the BCM senses that the low beam or high beam headlamps are ON and the park lamp input is not active, DTC B2662 sets.
Do the park lamps work ?

The sensor is usually located on the top of your dashboard. You might see it if you look into your vehicle through your windshield at your dash.
I have seen( one time ) that a gps was bright enough that it caused the dash lights not to come on because the sensor thought it was light outside.
Or you could have gotten a bad sensor.

Hi Gene,

When two 3-way switches are used to control a light - and you wish to install a dimmer, you replace only ONE of the switches. If you replace both switches with dimmers, and one dimmer is set to 50%, the light will only be able to get to 50% bright; regardless even if the other switch is set to 100%. The light can only get as bright as the current lowest dimmer position of either switch.

Most modern dimmers are solid state, and should be able to get full power to the lamps. Older dimmers aren't very efficient and work a little differently - but should still do a good job as far as brightness of the lamp. You can run into trouble trying to dim CFL (compact fluorescent lamps) if they are not labeled specifically for use with a dimmer. Even those that are labeled for use with a dimmer have a noticeably short range of dimming when compared to standard tungsten lamps, and tend to have an audible buzzing sound.

If this doesn't answer your question, please provide the wattage, type and number of lamps in the fixture. Your dimmer is rated for up to 600 watts, but may be less if it is in a switchbox with other dimmers or you have broken off portions of the heat shield as directed by the instructions.

Yes you short circuited the dimmer switch, it requires replacement to dim the light.

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

All your wiring looks good. Many times dimmer just have problems and are faulty. You should note that the dimmer can only handle 600 watts. If you have that or more on it, than you have probably fried the dimming mechanism. In either case the dimming mechanism is not working properly and you will have to take it back and get the same dimmer or a different one. Tell the store they sold you a faulty dimmer and you can get a replacement at no cost.

Some dimmers are specific to which end of the 3-way system they are installed on "Power" or "Switch Leg". The way you can test which side is the power and switch leg is to test the wire on the "Black" screw of the switch (common) to ground with the lights OFF. If you have power on the "common" screw with the lights OFF it's the power end, if you have no power on the "common" screw with the lights OFF it's the switch leg end. Verify that you have the dimmer on the side specified in the instructions (switch leg). Sounds to me like you have it on the "Power End" so you are dimming on of the travelers instead of the light. That is why it is dimmed in one position and not in the other. (See page N-23)

http://www.passandseymour.com/pdf/N.pdf

What sort of light is it , dimmer switches normally only work on Incandescent type lights not flourescent type.

Otherwise it sounds as if the dimmer function is faulty.