Dash light out
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 862
Likes: 0
From: CT
Dash light out
Hi all:
I was driving my 69 home last night when my dash lights went out :cry I thought it was just a blown fuse but so far all
the fuses look good. My head lights and courtsey lights work. Does anyome have a suggestion as to where to start looking?
This is a great forum. Thanks for your help. :D
I was driving my 69 home last night when my dash lights went out :cry I thought it was just a blown fuse but so far all
the fuses look good. My head lights and courtsey lights work. Does anyome have a suggestion as to where to start looking?
This is a great forum. Thanks for your help. :D
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 2,845
Likes: 2
From: Apex NC
Re: Dash light out (My69)
Did you check the small 5 amp fuse at the bottom of the fuse panel? It is labled "Inst Lamp" or something similar. It's about half as long as the normal 10 amp fuses in the other locations. Check it and see if it's OK.
If the fuse is OK, check for power at each side of the fuse itself when the lights are on. If you're not getting power, then the problem is likely the headlight switch. The instrument panel light dimmer rheostat tends to wear out. If you do have power to the fuse and it keeps blowing the fuse, you've got a short somewhere behind the dash (and you also have my deepest sympathy!). If there is power at the fuse and the fuse doesn't blow, then it's a grounding issue.
Shannon
[Modified by sb69coupe, 12:50 PM 9/10/2001]
If the fuse is OK, check for power at each side of the fuse itself when the lights are on. If you're not getting power, then the problem is likely the headlight switch. The instrument panel light dimmer rheostat tends to wear out. If you do have power to the fuse and it keeps blowing the fuse, you've got a short somewhere behind the dash (and you also have my deepest sympathy!). If there is power at the fuse and the fuse doesn't blow, then it's a grounding issue.
Shannon
[Modified by sb69coupe, 12:50 PM 9/10/2001]
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 862
Likes: 0
From: CT
Re: Dash light out (sb69coupe)
sb69coupe:
Thanks for getting back to me. I did check the small fuse and it was okay. I haven't checked the power to both sides though.
I tend to think the problem may be in the headlight switch. Is that a big deal to replace? It looks like the dash has to come off to replace this switch. Thanks again
Thanks for getting back to me. I did check the small fuse and it was okay. I haven't checked the power to both sides though.
I tend to think the problem may be in the headlight switch. Is that a big deal to replace? It looks like the dash has to come off to replace this switch. Thanks again
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 2,845
Likes: 2
From: Apex NC
Re: Dash light out (My69)
The headlight switch isn't terribly challenging, it just takes time and patience. You'll need to drop the steering column in order to get the drivers side dash pad to come out far enough to get at the switch. You shouldn't have to disconnect the instrument lights or the tach/speedo cables though. Pull the dash pad out and then there's a little "button" on the top of the headlight switch. Press down on that button and then pull the headlight **** out, The button releases the shaft. Then use a large straight blade screwdriver to remove the retainer that hold the switch in from the front of the panel.
Good luck,
Shannon
[Modified by sb69coupe, 1:23 PM 9/10/2001]
Good luck,
Shannon
[Modified by sb69coupe, 1:23 PM 9/10/2001]
