so the new neon has no gauge lights, no hvac lights and no shifter lights..... speedo, gauges and dome light work but no background lights. Pulled and checked every fuse and they are all good. I didn't see any relays labeled to the interior lights.....

any ideas?

 

Mine has the same EXACT problem. I think I know why but I don't know exactly how.
Basically the former owner took out the stock radio and the orange wire that is for the radio illumination isn't hooked up.
there's voltage everywhere except on that wire. I've hooked the wire to a constant 12 volt source and everything lights up. I just can't find the trigger from the "multifunction" switch coming off the column.
According to Alldata, the wire coming off the dimmer is supposed to be red. sadly there's like 4 red wires coming out of the column harness. 1 has constant 12 volts the others don't seem to have anything weather the lights are on or off.

I could PDF you a printout of the 2k3 neon wire diagram for ya if you want.

Edit.
Oh man. getting to the instrument cluster harness is a chore and a half.

 

email me that!

My stereo is pulled out too..... I will get some wire today and try that

 

e-mail sent. Hopefully to the right address.

 

Haven't checked my email yet, but you were right. I put a 12v constant to the orange wire and the dash lights came on. I just rigged it for the time being until I can tear into the dash. My lights now come on when you turn the key.

don't really care though, but I do want to know why this is not working right.....

 

btw, email is nharinton88@gmail.com

 

I sent it to nharington88@yahoo.com

My bad.. i'll resend. I'm going to tear into my dash today and figure out where the voltages to the cluster are.
I'll even take pictures
BTW I have no idea why but when I make those PDF's they go all negative on me. as in black and white are reversed.

 

Tore into the dash. I found the wire that goes from the switch to the cluster. It's Black w/Yellow strip. located on "pin 1" Top left pin on my car.
I just spliced that wire inline with the orange one for now.

 

I just spliced mine into the ***. ingnition wire to the radio. I'll do some more digging this weekend

 

I took voltage measurements of every pin with and without the lights on. COULD NOT find that damn dimmer switch...