Update to anyone currently having this problem... 01/08/2020 I have a 91 240 sedan
as the other fuse 16 blowing up the minute you switch on the lights.

I started by unplugging the R tail light and turned on lights = fuse blown.

Next I checked under the shifter to see if the wires were intact. Everything looked good but I gave it a good wiggle. Switched on the light and fuse blown.

Next I removed the cover between the seats. BTW to remove the ashtray/cover there are two screws (torx) on bottom half of each side that need to be removed before you can lift it up. Everything looked fine. I removed the upper bulb and turn on the light = fuse blown. I was about to give up but after fishing around some more I found another small light not attached to anything. I pull the bulb on that one and turned on the lights.... Bingo, I have my tail light and instrument panel light back.... Thank you Brickboard!

I had the same thing - fuse 16 would blow when I switched on the lights! I tracked it down to the seat belt latch light - wire was pinched and shorted. Easy fix once I found the schematic posted here for instrument and console lights, also saw the one for parking lights, tail lights, and number plate lights that Art posted a while back, also uses fuse 16.

Thanks to everyone for making brickboard so good, and special thanks to Art for putting this info up.

Hello, disconnect the right hand taillight from the circuit board, does the guages stay lit. if so then the circuit board for tailight has gone south. If that is not it, then to the left of the foot well under the carpet is black metal plate remove and disconnect the wire harness that runs to the back lights. Install a good fuse and check that the lights stay lit. If thats not it then under the shifter cover to the left of the shifteris the white and red wire that lights your shift indicator. See if the wire is broken and touching to ground. Those are the most common ailments of your problem. If its none of those post back. Pauli