no dash lights
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: orchard park new york
no dash lights
i just purchased a 66 corvette convertible that has undergone 2 partial restorations and now i get to continue. I have no dash lights, i have replaced the headlight switch which was the problem i use to have with my 60 t bird but this did not work. All fuses are ok not sure where to go from here?
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,576
Likes: 118
From: Conroe Texas
Welcome.
2 quick thoughts:
1) You've confirmed the dash **** is not rotated all the way to "dim"?
2) Does the instrument cluster have a GOOD ground? SHould be a black wire with a female connector connected to the cluster above the tachometer.
2 quick thoughts:
1) You've confirmed the dash **** is not rotated all the way to "dim"?
2) Does the instrument cluster have a GOOD ground? SHould be a black wire with a female connector connected to the cluster above the tachometer.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 15,359
Likes: 2,728
From: Close to DC
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
On the firewall side under the master cylinder is the main harness connection. The connections inside sometime get corroded. Clean them carefully. Others here on the CF may have additional ideas. 
Dennis
Dennis
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,136
Likes: 9,447
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
have you checked the fuse. checked to see if the light bulbs are any good. chance of all them being blown are slim but you never know
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: orchard park new york
no dash lights
when i had the dashpartially removed to replace the headlight switch i did pull a couple of the bulbs in the instrument cluster they appeared good the fuses all appeared good but i will pull them all and check when removed thanks for your tip
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,200
Likes: 4,187
From: Kannapolis NC
Measure on the third fuse from the bottom to a good ground. The voltage for the instrument lights comes off the headlight switch and then through that fuse to the bulbs. It's a 4a fuse and marked "instr lmps". If you have the voltage there, then go toward the bulbs and check the wires and the bulbs and the ground. If you don't have voltage on either side of the fuse, go back toward the headlight switch and find the last place you do have voltage.
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: orchard park new york
no dash lights
i checked the grounds which were clean and good went back to do exactly what you suggested i pulled the fuse i did have current decided that even though the fuse looked good to throw in another one after 4 hours of work checking grounds and wires, replacing the headlight switch, it turned out the fuse was bad. lights work fine and i wont make that mistake again i will start with the simplest solution first.
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Dennis