'79 fuse panel; I'm lost.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
From: Wallaceburg Ontario
'79 fuse panel; I'm lost.
Someone else's post got me wondering if the only reason my interior lights won't work is a blown fuse. I looked underneath and couldn't figure out ANYTHING. About half the fuse sockets are empty and I can't read the words on any of them (the words are all worn out). I refered to my Chilton's manual, which proved totally useless on the matter. Does anyone have a diagram of a '79 fuse panel showing which fuses go in which places for each device and how many amps (most of the ones still left on my car are 20s and 25s) they're supposed to be? My '79 came with A/C, power windows, etc; a pretty typically-equipped L48 (no power locks). Thanks in advance!
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
From: Fairfield Texas
78 is completely different from 79. I have the 79 GM shop manual
but even in it the words on the picture of fuse block are so small You
cant read them. Dont know if this will help but its the bottom middle
fuse in the block,20 amp.
but even in it the words on the picture of fuse block are so small You
cant read them. Dont know if this will help but its the bottom middle
fuse in the block,20 amp.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
From: Wallaceburg Ontario
Ooops, sorry, I had a brain fart - I meant to say "dash lights," not "interior lights." So I guess that means I'm looking for the 10 amp fuse with "gauges" written above it?
Thanks guys, you all rock!
Thanks guys, you all rock!
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Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 8
From: Hamilton NJ
Originally Posted by KapsSA
This help? 79 layout.
Mike
FYI, auxzilary electric fan plugs in from the front in lower left corner, fuse (I think) right above it.
Mike
FYI, auxzilary electric fan plugs in from the front in lower left corner, fuse (I think) right above it.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
From: Wallaceburg Ontario
Originally Posted by Wuttin
The diagram shows the instrument fuse (5 amp) to be the lower of the two on the top right
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by Chilli
Damn, I didn't even see that one. Thanks, Wuttin. Do parts stores still sell those fuses? I don't have any of the 5 amp variety lyin' around. I'm starting to think my problem is more complicated. Why? Because of the evidence Bubba left behind - a previous owner installed a mini lamp with an adjustable neck just to the right of the main gauge cluster. I guess it's possible Bubba wasn't smart enough to check for a bad/missing fuse before doing something so goofy; guess I'll find out soon.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 33
From: Eagleville PA
While you're on your hunt for an answer... since you have a 79, you may be surprised to know there is also a bulb on the center console pointing down from the dash to illuminate the heat controls below. Look on the underside of the dash, exactly between the two vents, you'll have some plastic jutting down, run your finger along the bottom of it and you'll feel a hole. Odds are (if you didn't know about this already) that the bulb is there, but dead. I had to buy it from a Chevy dealer, but they stocked them. It was a bit of a bitch to replace, but it is surprising what a difference it makes at night.
The other problem might be the headlight swtich. It has a reistat (sp?) for dimming the dash lights. A) Make sure it is turned all the way clockwise. B) You'll only be able to tell if the dash lights are on when it is dark out. The 79 is not like these modern day fancy cars that can be illuminated during the day!
You may know all of this already. If so, just ignore me.
The other problem might be the headlight swtich. It has a reistat (sp?) for dimming the dash lights. A) Make sure it is turned all the way clockwise. B) You'll only be able to tell if the dash lights are on when it is dark out. The 79 is not like these modern day fancy cars that can be illuminated during the day!
You may know all of this already. If so, just ignore me.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 876
Likes: 1
From: Same as our leaders Out of my mind
bad grounds abound in these cars, sounds like the headlight switch ground is open,try gently wiggling the headlight switch to re-establish the ground, also the printed circuit boards are thin plastic with copper traces, they get brittle with age, replacements are available if you look around. lastly the bulbs are as old as the car in most cases, pull the dash gauges out and replace all of the bulbs while you have everything apart. there is nothing worse than putting it all back together only to have a bulb or two fail a short time later. a little time and patience and it will all work fine, you can de-bubba-ize your dash. Check out the thread on clock repair too. I got my stock clock to work again just by following the thread, it was great!
Good luck!
Good luck!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,198
Likes: 0
From: staten island new york
St. Jude Donor '10
i changed every bulb in my 79 during an interior upgrade and wound up with the same bulbs out that i started with (left turn sig) and something else that just doesnt come to mind at this time. i figured it was that copper plastic circuit board type thing...........
