spille85

Hey guys and gals....well i just replace my headlight switch on my 79 vette....everything works...except i have no dash lights.....The reason i replaced the switch due to the same reason...Can anyone give me some insight on what i should look into to correct the problem....thanks for your help

chevylit

I assume You turned the headlight switch **** to the right to
turn the dash lights on? Well of course You did !
There is also a 6 amp fuse for dash lights up at the very top
of fuse block.

SIXFOOTER

and you also checked the bulbs right?

Hwy St*r

how do you get to the dash bulbs? where are they?

c3dreamer

From my color wiring diagram (1970-1971 C3) you should have a green wire that run from the light switch to the fuse located in the fuse block and that is related to dash instrument lights.

Also you should have a gray wire that run from that fuse of the fuse block to a common joint that distributes gray wiring to dash and console lights. Double check gray and green wires installation at respective connectors .

Check the green wire installation in the light switch connection. I think that the fuse is damaged.

Replace it and let us know.

BrentDev

there are about a million of them behind the dash. I had this same problem when I got my car.

One of the bulbs was broken, and the casing shorted to ground.

There are about 6-8 bulbs each in the speedo and tach.

Then, about another 5-6 in the guage cluster?
To get to them, gotta pull the dash pads.

'Bochawa72

I have teh same problem. I replace the blown fuse and once I turn the lights on they work for two minutes before the fuse blows again.
-CR

c3dreamer

Install a correct amp fuse (i.e. 20 Amp fuse for 1970-1971 C3).

AGVI

I doubt that's his problem.

c3dreamer

Read the complete information:

From my color wiring diagram (1970-1971 C3) you should have a green wire that run from the light switch to the fuse located in the fuse block and that is related to dash instrument lights.

Also you should have a gray wire that run from that fuse of the fuse block to a common joint that distributes gray wiring to dash and console lights. Double check gray and green wires installation at respective connectors .

Check the green wire installation in the light switch connection. I think that the fuse is damaged.

Replace it and let us know.

ESU

Check the fuse for the brake lights if the dash fuse is good. Many GM cars had the brake lights hooked up in such a way that if the brake lights went out the dash lights would go out also as an indicator that you had a problem,
ESU

chevylit

In the 79 shop manual it shows the brake light fuse as a possible reason for dash lights not functioning. I couldn't figure out what one
had to do with the other, now I know,Thanks ESU.

ESU

Your welcome,learned it the hard way many years ago on a 77 trans am I had.
ESU

jdp6000

Make sure you have power on the dimmer supply side first. If there is power their. Check for power coming out and going to the dash lights. If there is power their check the same color wire at the circuit board on the cluster first. If there is power there check for power at various spots on the printed board. If you have kinked the circuit board your lights will not work. Kinking the copper board is a common problem for most cluster related issues.

Whats weird is you have two different circuit boards...one where the tack and speedo is and another where the cluster is. Usually both clusters don't fail so you get lights at one place or the the other but it is possible. So to figure it out you need to check the wiring (as out lined above). Then the bulbs (odd if they all went but possible) then the board(s).

Don't use a meter se a cheap test light run the black to a ground and probe all the places with the other end...you get light you have power.

Of ourse you have checked all the fuses....right???

Jim