Dash lights won't light.
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From: Erin NY
Dash lights won't light.
The dash lights (speedometer/tach.) on my '76 will not light up when I turn on the headlights. Headlights work fine. The dash lights were working fine a while back. I have noticed that I also have been burning a few fuses. My question is if the headlights come on but the dash won't light up is that automatically a bad headlight switch? Does power for both run through the switch and utilize the same fuse or is there a seperate fuse for the dash? I would hate to change the switch (looks like a tough job) only to find out it was unneccesary. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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From: Erin NY
Thanks.
Last edited by #77; Jul 5, 2007 at 08:47 AM. Reason: spelling
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,881
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From: staten island ny
After u check the instrument fuse check the brake light fuse. GM linked the brake light fuse to the dash lights so that if your brake fuse went out the dash lights went out as an indicator. Worth checking,
ESU
ESU
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
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From: Glen Allen, VA
On more than one car I've had the exact same problem, but on both cars it was blowing hte instrument panel fuse, instantly when the lights were turned on. On both cars it was the printed circuit board, where 2 lines on the board were touching. All I did was super glue the lines back down and it worked like a charm.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 385
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From: RTP NC
I just had the same thing happen. Every light in the dash went out when I turned the headlights on... The headlights worked as did the trun signals and the high beam indicator. The instrument fuse was blown on my '76. It was most likely the orginal fuse (SPE-4) or something like that. It was so small that there was barely enough glass to see through. I used a volt meter to check it...
The fuse is on the bottom row in the middle of the fuse block..
The fuse is on the bottom row in the middle of the fuse block..
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From: Erin NY
update
Thanks to all. The instrument panel fuse was O.K. It does appear to be related to the brake/running lights in some way. During the process of changing fuses I found a loose wire on a "Bubba" switch that turns on/off the instrument panel lights and rear running lights reguardless of the headlight switch or if vehicle is running or not. Looks like I will be doing a lot of troubleshooting of the wiring. Any ideas as to why a P.O. would install such a switch? Is there a common problem that this would remedy?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,438
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From: Melrose Florida
Sometimes people wire in a switch to turn off all rear lights fro evsive action.
Also, the rheostat part of the headlight switches does go bad sometimes (and sometimes it is just turned "off").
Also, the rheostat part of the headlight switches does go bad sometimes (and sometimes it is just turned "off").
Thanks to all. The instrument panel fuse was O.K. It does appear to be related to the brake/running lights in some way. During the process of changing fuses I found a loose wire on a "Bubba" switch that turns on/off the instrument panel lights and rear running lights reguardless of the headlight switch or if vehicle is running or not. Looks like I will be doing a lot of troubleshooting of the wiring. Any ideas as to why a P.O. would install such a switch? Is there a common problem that this would remedy?
Thanks.
Thanks.
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From: Erin NY
Thanks guys.
The street racer theory is an interesting one but, based on the fact that the car is absolutely stock, with seemingly little attention to extra speed and has other half-a$$ed fixes, I am guessing that it was a quick fix instead. Either way, I think I would like to remove it. How do I test to see if it is a headlamp switch problem that was bypassed?
Thanks.
The street racer theory is an interesting one but, based on the fact that the car is absolutely stock, with seemingly little attention to extra speed and has other half-a$$ed fixes, I am guessing that it was a quick fix instead. Either way, I think I would like to remove it. How do I test to see if it is a headlamp switch problem that was bypassed?
Thanks.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 487
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From: Jacksonville FL
Thanks guys.
The street racer theory is an interesting one but, based on the fact that the car is absolutely stock, with seemingly little attention to extra speed and has other half-a$$ed fixes, I am guessing that it was a quick fix instead. Either way, I think I would like to remove it. How do I test to see if it is a headlamp switch problem that was bypassed?
Thanks.
The street racer theory is an interesting one but, based on the fact that the car is absolutely stock, with seemingly little attention to extra speed and has other half-a$$ed fixes, I am guessing that it was a quick fix instead. Either way, I think I would like to remove it. How do I test to see if it is a headlamp switch problem that was bypassed?
Thanks.
Thread Starter
Instructor
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From: Erin NY
Thanks.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 109
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From: Erin NY
Thanks.
Pro
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From: Melbourne, Fla. 6 months- New Middletown, Ohio 6 months
In your first post you said that the dash lights would not come on when you turn the headlights on. In the post I quoted, you say that the dimmer is working properly. If the dash lights do not come on, how do you know that the dimmer is working???
Am I missing something here?
Thread Starter
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From: Erin NY
Now this is confusing to me.
In your first post you said that the dash lights would not come on when you turn the headlights on. In the post I quoted, you say that the dimmer is working properly. If the dash lights do not come on, how do you know that the dimmer is working???
Am I missing something here?
In your first post you said that the dash lights would not come on when you turn the headlights on. In the post I quoted, you say that the dimmer is working properly. If the dash lights do not come on, how do you know that the dimmer is working???
Am I missing something here?
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 487
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From: Jacksonville FL
Thanks for the help. If the rheostat is bad will the switch still dim the lights up/down properly. When you say "pull the switch out" I assume you mean to remove the switch from the dash not pull the **** out to the extended position, correct? Is there a way to check the switch while still in the dash? It looks like a tough job to remove it.
Thanks.
Thanks.
yes, pull it out means remove it for examination.
it may be possable to remove the top dash pad and see the rheostat, but if you have it that far it is no big deal to go ahead and compleatly remove the switch.
removal is not that bad. remove all of the windshield trim. remove the top dash pad. pull the head light **** to the on position. push the little button on the switch and pull the **** compleatly out. unscrew the retaining nut for the switch and remove the switch. piece of cake....
hope this helps,
Mike.
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From: Erin NY
if the rheostat is bad you will have no dash lights. if the coiley wire of the rheostat does not appear to be broken, try a little sand paper on it. that's all mine needed to get it working again.
yes, pull it out means remove it for examination.
it may be possable to remove the top dash pad and see the rheostat, but if you have it that far it is no big deal to go ahead and compleatly remove the switch.
removal is not that bad. remove all of the windshield trim. remove the top dash pad. pull the head light **** to the on position. push the little button on the switch and pull the **** compleatly out. unscrew the retaining nut for the switch and remove the switch. piece of cake....
hope this helps,
Mike.
yes, pull it out means remove it for examination.
it may be possable to remove the top dash pad and see the rheostat, but if you have it that far it is no big deal to go ahead and compleatly remove the switch.
removal is not that bad. remove all of the windshield trim. remove the top dash pad. pull the head light **** to the on position. push the little button on the switch and pull the **** compleatly out. unscrew the retaining nut for the switch and remove the switch. piece of cake....
hope this helps,
Mike.
Thanks Mike,
That doesn't sound too difficult. I want to be sure it is neccessary before I do it, though. Just to be clear, the headlight switch works the dash lights correctly (turns on dash lights and dims up/down) as long as the "added switch" is turned on. If added switch is turned off the dash lights (and tail lights) won't light at all. If the dash lights dim up/down by rotating the headlight switch does that mean rheostat is functioning O.K. and that the problem is elsewhere?
Thanks, I appreciate the help.
Joe
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 487
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From: Jacksonville FL
Thanks Mike,
That doesn't sound too difficult. I want to be sure it is neccessary before I do it, though. Just to be clear, the headlight switch works the dash lights correctly (turns on dash lights and dims up/down) as long as the "added switch" is turned on. If added switch is turned off the dash lights (and tail lights) won't light at all. If the dash lights dim up/down by rotating the headlight switch does that mean rheostat is functioning O.K. and that the problem is elsewhere?
Thanks, I appreciate the help.
Joe
That doesn't sound too difficult. I want to be sure it is neccessary before I do it, though. Just to be clear, the headlight switch works the dash lights correctly (turns on dash lights and dims up/down) as long as the "added switch" is turned on. If added switch is turned off the dash lights (and tail lights) won't light at all. If the dash lights dim up/down by rotating the headlight switch does that mean rheostat is functioning O.K. and that the problem is elsewhere?
Thanks, I appreciate the help.
Joe
i guess you should concentrate on this bubba switch. do you have a good wiring diagram for your car? you are probably going to need it...
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From: Erin NY
Thanks for all your help.
Joe
