I have a wire that is burning up under the dash board and it has made it to where I have no dashboard lights or tail lights. can you tell me where to even start looking for the problem or what it could be that has caused this?

Ok first your tail lighs work of a fues with a test light you can buy cheap at dollar store test all the fuese on the fuese box 1 under the hood the other under the dash under the steering wheel or on the side of the dash board if all fuese r good at night with the lights on check if you have dash light on your instrument panel if no light you have a burn fuse also the tail light work of your headlight switch the only way to check if it's your switch is to remove it n bypass with one wire you'll have a big red wire the will be your 12 volts stick it on that the the other side stick it on the yellow or brown wire if your tail light work u have a bad headlight switch but don't touch any black wire those r growing you'll just burn the fuse those r easy to replace good luck hope I was helpful

You probably pinched a wire when you put the bed back on. You most likely have a blown fuse as further proof that you shorted out everything in the back of the truck.
Recheck all your wiring paths.

Check your fuses, a short will blow them.

You only need to change the tail light fuse if it is blown. If you haven't checked it already, do that. Those stop/tail bulbs are 2 filament bulbs. One filament is for brake lights, and other filament is for the tail lights. So it is possible to have brake lights and no tails, if the filaments for the tail lights are burned out. But of course, it is unlikely that all the tail lights would be out and all the brake lights still work.

You may need a voltmeter to help solve the problem. It could be a problem in the headlight switch (a problem with the park light function), but is more likely a problem with the Lighting Control Module- or the Body Control Module-whichever your car is equipped with. GM first came out with the LCM, and a year or two later came out with the BCM. Both are mini-computers to control lighting and cabin functions. You would have to use a voltmeter and check things like power in and power out at the BCM of the park lights. You would thus need a wiring diagram to go along with the voltmeter. Those modules are located up under the dash-you can use google to see pictures of them, and maybe find locations.

Bigird,

I would recommend checking the fuses for the dashboard lights. If no fuses are burned, there could be a possibility of the bulbs in the dash being burned. In any case, start by looking in the manual for fuses relating to dashboard/gauge cluster lights. Once you find out what fuse it should be go from there.

Good luck

Its the brake pedal switch under the dash. My 1989 did the same thing.

most like u have a blown fuse most of the time in cars they connect the tail light and instrament lights to 1 fuse

there's one under the hood another under the dash on the drivers side and possibly one under the dash on the pass. side also. check your owners manual if you have one it should tell you where they're at.

does your vehicle have tilt wheel...that is a common problem and your brake light wires run down through the steering column

sounds like dampness is getting in somewhere around the dash board and is causing a short.when it heats up it dries out