Instrument cluster lights out

[BonnieBlack]

My instrument cluster lights are out on my 2004 Century. The 7.5 amp fuse that protects them blows as soon as I turn the headlights on. Well, while investigating this morning, one time the fuse didn't blow for about 10 seconds. In the meantime, a stream of smoke rose from the little vent on the top/left (driver's side) of the dashboard 😱

The problem started after I removed the radio and fascia around it to install an FM modulator.

While doing that, I lost one of the metal clips that held the left (driver's side) end-cap of the dashboard. It fell into the dashboard. I found it today while trying to figure out the problem. It fell out when I removed the headlight control switch.

So, I'm wondering if that didn't short out something in the switch, which is now causing a short that is blowing that fuse.

Does anyone know how to troubleshoot this switch? It's the one at http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=97279. I'd like to take a multimeter to it and make sure it's bad before shelling out the money for a replacement.

Is there somewhere else I should be looking for the problem? Anyone know of an online source for a wiring schematic for the cluster lighting circuit?

EDIT: The gear indicator lights and the warning lights in the cluster work fine. It is just those LED speedo illumination lights that are out.

 

[BonnieBlack]

It's definitely the headlight switch throwing smoke if the fuse doesn't blow right off. I'm going to swap that out and hope it fixes the problem. Wish I was sure that it was the cause and not a symptom though.

More I think about it, those lights may have been out before I took the dash apart to install the FM modulator.