Electrical problem HELP!!! Options

[97TalonTSI]

Ok stupid me. I took out the dash and it has cause more problems than it is worth. Number one the climate control and instrument cluster stopped lighting up. I located the bad wire and it was the ground wire that was reading postive. I was able to run a ground from the back of the instrument cluster one going into and one going back into the harness and they will light up. But the dimmer will not work and also my biggest problem the battery keeps on going dead. So I am thinking that it is pulling a low voltage somewhere.

Does anyone have any ideas?

[The Iron Goat]

Ok, ok. I think I may be on the same page now. You're talking about the common ground for the interior marking illumination (guages, switches, etc.)? In that case, I'm going to say that you should definately have not cut that wire.

Where did you check this ground when you got the positive voltage? Was it at the grounding point on the chasis or was it in a harness somewhere? Could you post a pic of where it was?

It's so hard to give you advice if i'm not there looking at your problem, but I'm guessing that the wire you thought should be ground wasn't. If a ground wire is giving you voltage AT THE CHASIS, then the entire car's grounding system is peckered up. Positive voltage at a harness can have other causes, but again, some more info is needed.

Where do you live? Maybe I can swing by and give you a hand.