Help! No tail, runnig or marker lights, dash dim
09-30-2008, 07:11 PM
#1
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Help! No tail, runnig or marker lights, dash dim
It's not a fuse! I've pulled every fuse, they are all good!
Dash lights: When I turn on the key all dash lights come on bright and then dim after a few seconds. During the daytime I can see everything just fine! At night with the headlights on I can see everything I need to see but it is very dim (Really got to squint hard, got old man eyes)and the dimmer switch makes no difference at all! Can't be a bulb because when the key is first switched on, EVERYTHING lights up bright!
My fog lights do not work.
When I turn on the headlamps they pop open and work just fine. I have brights, I have dims. I do not have ANY tail lights, side marker lights of park/running lights. I DO have brake lights, turn signals and back up lights.
All of these symptoms happened/appeared at the same time! I drove it to the store and everything worker. I came out of the store and......
Where do I start?
I'll check back tomorrow for answers,... thanks for your help!
Dash lights: When I turn on the key all dash lights come on bright and then dim after a few seconds. During the daytime I can see everything just fine! At night with the headlights on I can see everything I need to see but it is very dim (Really got to squint hard, got old man eyes)and the dimmer switch makes no difference at all! Can't be a bulb because when the key is first switched on, EVERYTHING lights up bright!
My fog lights do not work.
When I turn on the headlamps they pop open and work just fine. I have brights, I have dims. I do not have ANY tail lights, side marker lights of park/running lights. I DO have brake lights, turn signals and back up lights.
All of these symptoms happened/appeared at the same time! I drove it to the store and everything worker. I came out of the store and......
Where do I start?
I'll check back tomorrow for answers,... thanks for your help!
09-30-2008, 11:27 PM
#3
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Fuses should be checked with an ohmeter, they see much better than you or I. The 10 amp tail fuse supplies power to a lot of stuff including the marker, license plate, stop and turn signal lights and the instrument cluster (also the dimmer control). Use a voltmeter and measure the voltage on both sides of the tail fuse. The tail fuse receives battery power all the time and you should see 12v on both sides of the fuse. If no 12v either side, you need to check the fusible link that powers the tail fuse. Early C4's have a bolt behind the battery with 8 wires on it, all have fusible links. You can use two needles (to pierce the wire insulation) and your ohmeter to determine if each fusible link is good. Later C4's have a block of fuses near the battery and you would need to check these fuses.
Always post what year vette you are asking help for, you will get better information. No one here is clairvoyant!
Always post what year vette you are asking help for, you will get better information. No one here is clairvoyant!
10-01-2008, 12:29 PM
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Furrball here
It's an 85 model.
Something interesting I noticed yesterday is that during the day I can read all the gauges & instrument clusters fine, if I cover the light sensor with my fingertip it goes dark as it does at night, dark like can't even see it during daylight.
I appreciate the help and support,...
This is my second vette, I had a 76 model before I had kids and now that most of them are out of the house I thought I found a great deal on this 85, it looks beautiful with a flawless finish and great interior but I think I got a lemon.
Everything worked when I bought it but 200 miles later it seems everything is going to $#!+!!!! The Doug Nash quit shifting into OD, now its just a 4 speed.
I'll get my lights working and then start on the next problem.
Something interesting I noticed yesterday is that during the day I can read all the gauges & instrument clusters fine, if I cover the light sensor with my fingertip it goes dark as it does at night, dark like can't even see it during daylight.
I appreciate the help and support,...
This is my second vette, I had a 76 model before I had kids and now that most of them are out of the house I thought I found a great deal on this 85, it looks beautiful with a flawless finish and great interior but I think I got a lemon.
Everything worked when I bought it but 200 miles later it seems everything is going to $#!+!!!! The Doug Nash quit shifting into OD, now its just a 4 speed.
I'll get my lights working and then start on the next problem.
10-01-2008, 06:15 PM
#6
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Hello again! I think you posted on another forum when it got worse? It does sound like a ground problem...the dash and headlight switch share the same ground.
Its suppossed to do that. Its GM's way of telling you..."HEY! Its Now Night..TURN YOUR LIGHTS ON!"
They were afraid if the dash didnt dim people actually would forget to turn their lights on since digital dash would be bright ...as if they had turned their lights on on a standard dash.
They were afraid if the dash didnt dim people actually would forget to turn their lights on since digital dash would be bright ...as if they had turned their lights on on a standard dash.
Last edited by CorvetteArchives; 10-01-2008 at 06:22 PM.
10-01-2008, 06:51 PM
#7
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Thanks,... I'm an idiot!
After all my insistance that it was not a fuse,... guess what?
Held it up to the light and couldn't see a break in it. Gave it to my friend who has better eye sight and he didn't see a break in it either.
Tested it with an ohm meter and SURPRISE!!!!!! #@*)# things broken!
Thanks for the help!
Held it up to the light and couldn't see a break in it. Gave it to my friend who has better eye sight and he didn't see a break in it either.
Tested it with an ohm meter and SURPRISE!!!!!! #@*)# things broken!
Thanks for the help!
12-22-2008, 12:51 AM
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I have a similar problem with my 85 vette. My display is dim, accept all lights work outside car and instrument display is working, but not bright at all. The difference is that my turn signal and high beam indicator are on all the time and dim like the instrument display should. When I turn on the signals, the green arrows blink as they should. and the high beam indicator is in reverse, when the high beams are on the blue indicator is off, and when the highs are off, the indicator is on. I checked every fuse in the fuse box on the driver's side. The car runs fine. The voltage looks good according to the indicator (14.1 volts) Where on earth should I be checking? this is strange.......
12-22-2008, 01:03 AM
#10
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06
I have a similar problem with my 85 vette. My display is dim, accept all lights work outside car and instrument display is working, but not bright at all. The difference is that my turn signal and high beam indicator are on all the time and dim like the instrument display should. When I turn on the signals, the green arrows blink as they should. and the high beam indicator is in reverse, when the high beams are on the blue indicator is off, and when the highs are off, the indicator is on. I checked every fuse in the fuse box on the driver's side. The car runs fine. The voltage looks good according to the indicator (14.1 volts) Where on earth should I be checking? this is strange.......
12-22-2008, 01:06 AM
#11
Le Mans Master
I have a similar problem with my 85 vette. My display is dim, accept all lights work outside car and instrument display is working, but not bright at all. The difference is that my turn signal and high beam indicator are on all the time and dim like the instrument display should. When I turn on the signals, the green arrows blink as they should. and the high beam indicator is in reverse, when the high beams are on the blue indicator is off, and when the highs are off, the indicator is on. I checked every fuse in the fuse box on the driver's side. The car runs fine. The voltage looks good according to the indicator (14.1 volts) Where on earth should I be checking? this is strange.......
Or you can ship the cluster to someone who will repair it for you.
