Kerouac

Hello Everyone: Started the '65 Coupe up for a nighttime cruise last night. All the gauge lights on the dash illuminated. However, after a few minutes they all suddenly went out. Headlights were fine, and I could turn the overhead interior light on by turning the light ****, but no gauge lights. Any suggestions? Thanks.

66jack

Check your fuse...

65GGvert

Check the inst lamps fuse and the taillamp fuse. If the taillamp fuse blows, it cuts power to the dash lights as an indicator. They're the second an third fuses from the bottom. Measure or replace them, don't just look. Checking the fuses involved should be one of your first lines of troubleshooting when something electrical stops working.

Kerouac

Thanks. I'll take a look tonight when I get home. That panel is a pain in the butt to get to, but I'll try to fit under there. Is there a tip for popping the old fuse out of the fuse box? And one more dumb question -- the numbers on the right side of the fuse box are the type of fuse, right? 4, 10, etc.

Thanks again

65hihp

get a cheapie fuse puller at your FLAPS.
http://www.google.com/search?q=fuse+...w=1425&bih=704

the numbers to the right of the fuses are amp ratings.

Kerouac

Fixed! It was, in fact, the fuse. Pain in the rear getting to that fuse panel, but I contorted my body and got under there. Used a "fuse puller" ($3 at Auto Zone) as was suggested to me, and then snapped the new one in place, So far, so good. If it blows again, I suppose I'll need to check some other things. Thanks for the help, guys. I appreciate it.

62Jeff

Do you have factory AC?

65GGvert

I do, and I'm pretty sure you do too. I'm old and stiff, but I don't think the fuses are all that hard to get to. I usually kneel on the floor and reach in.

62Jeff

Agree, my question is because factory AC cars have an additional 0.6 amps worth of bulbs which taxes the stretched 4 amp fuse.

65GGvert

Yeah, he didn't mention whether it was the inst fuse or the tail lamp fuse that was blown.

rich5962

1958 to 1967 fuse panels are easy IMO.....

1968 to 1982 fusepanels are the worst in any car I've ever worked on. I have this phobia of working on the C3's mainly because of that. Pinched nerves in my neck and back are one of the reasons I don't like to work on those years.

I had to remove a fuse panel and replace a harness on one of those. Even with the dash removed it was a horrible task for me.

Kerouac

Instrument fuse. And yes, I have A/C. BTW, even though my taillights weren't out, I think it's a good system that the dash lights would warn you when that happens.

62Jeff

If it blows again consider a 5 amp fuse for the instrument lights. If that blows then use a voltmeter to see what the amp draw is.

Kerouac

Appreciate that. I'll let you know if it blows again.

62Jeff

Enjoy

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c1-a...ort-still.html

66jack

Cannot believe after all that it was just a 1 amp difference to keep the lights on....

Kerouac

Yup, 62Jeff, the 4amp fuse blew again. Same drill -- all was well, and then after a few minutes of driving the instrument lights just clicked off. I will get a 5amp tomorrow and see if that makes a difference. On that thread you sent me it sounded like he changed out his bulbs, too. Did I read that right? My car is a '65 Coupe with factory A/C and a 327 / 365 engine. Just had the damn thing in the shop for 4 weeks and now this. I REALLY hope the answer is as simple as increasing the fuse by 1 amp. Stay tuned…

Editing because I just realized that thread was started by you! So now I know why you can feel my pain. Hopefully I'll have a happy ending to my story, too. Thanks again.

62Jeff

Yes, I went with lower rated bulbs in the main dash AND a 5 amp fuse. Good luck!

Kerouac

How big of a hassle is it to change those bulbs? Is it as simple as unscrewing the screws on the dash facing and reaching back there? Or, as I'm assuming, is it a big job? I'm new to this. Eager to learn, but new.

62Jeff

Well, it's not awesome

Pull the seat, drop the hood release bracket, remove the AC duct, loosen the steering column, replace cluster mount screws with threaded 1/4x20 studs, then slide the cluster forward a little.

With that you might be able to access the bulbs. You want the ones on gray wires only, they are the ones on your 4 amp circuit.