gauge light problem
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 43
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From: hammonton nj
gauge light problem
has anyone had problems with thier gauge lights? mine will not come on even though i appear to have power to and from the headlight switch but not to the plug that goes into the circuitry behind the tach and speedo. the lights come on behind the tach and speedo if i put 12 volts directly to the circuitry and behind the center console if i put 12 volts to the brown wire in the plug harness that plugs in behind the tach. but like i said, there does'nt seem to be power coming into that plug. does anyone have any ideas? thanks...cs
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 43
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From: hammonton nj
i wanted to add some more info...i did some more testing on the switch and found that there is one pillar on the switch that never seems to show any current/voltage. it is at the front corner and toward the inside (closer to the steering column). It coincides with the white wire in the plug. should there be power to that pillar? i should also mention that there is a black and gray wire coming from the main harness behind the radio (I have an after market radio) that are not connected to anything. do these have anything to do with the gauge lights? also, i pulled on the headlight **** till i was blue in the face...is there some secret to getting that thing off in case i have to change the switch? i'm starting to suspect that the dimmer went bad which may be my problem. Thanks...CS
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 43
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From: hammonton nj
DWncchs, thanks for the reply...is it the 7.5a all the way at the top left? if so i checked it for continuity and it checked ok although i didn't check for current/voltage across the fuse block. i guess i should check that. also, why 7.5a? (just curious) can i put a 5a or 10a in there? can you even find 7.5a's for replacement? i don't recall ever seeing them.
thanks...cs
thanks...cs
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
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From: Dayton, Ohio
DWncchs, thanks for the reply...is it the 7.5a all the way at the top left? if so i checked it for continuity and it checked ok although i didn't check for current/voltage across the fuse block. i guess i should check that. also, why 7.5a? (just curious) can i put a 5a or 10a in there? can you even find 7.5a's for replacement? i don't recall ever seeing them.
thanks...cs
thanks...cs
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 43
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From: hammonton nj
ok, i'll check that. by the way it is a 1980 L82.
how about the headlight switch ****...should that thing be so hard to pull off or is there some secret to getting it off?
do you know if the disconnected gray and black wire behind the radio are involved?
lastly, the pillar on the switch toward the front and closest to the dimmer coil never seems to have any voltage nor any continuity. it goes to the white wire on the connector. do you think that maybe the dimmer coil has gone bad? would this keep all of the gauge lights from illuminating?
thanks for helping me with this...cs
how about the headlight switch ****...should that thing be so hard to pull off or is there some secret to getting it off?
do you know if the disconnected gray and black wire behind the radio are involved?
lastly, the pillar on the switch toward the front and closest to the dimmer coil never seems to have any voltage nor any continuity. it goes to the white wire on the connector. do you think that maybe the dimmer coil has gone bad? would this keep all of the gauge lights from illuminating?
thanks for helping me with this...cs
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
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From: Dayton, Ohio
The **** and shaft come out together-there is a button on the switch opposite the plug-pull the **** out(lights on)press the button then pull shaft and **** out.
grey and black behind radio-(most likely) grey is for the old radio illumination bulb (inside radio)the black was radio ground.You'll probably see a yellow connected to your new radio-those 3 used to be together in a connector.
The white wire you speak of is the courtesy light ground-by rotating the **** it grounds the white wire and turns on the courtesy lights.
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grey and black behind radio-(most likely) grey is for the old radio illumination bulb (inside radio)the black was radio ground.You'll probably see a yellow connected to your new radio-those 3 used to be together in a connector.
The white wire you speak of is the courtesy light ground-by rotating the **** it grounds the white wire and turns on the courtesy lights.
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 43
Likes: 5
From: hammonton nj
cool...thanks...i'm glad i didn't try to force the **** although i did pull on it pretty hard.
reference the switch...i'm thinking that there should be continuity across that pillar and/or white wire when the **** is turned all the way over to activate the courtesy lights but there is not.
also, come to think of it, i haven't actually closed the doors and checked to see if the the **** activates the courtesy lights or not. i'll check that when i check the power across the fuse.
if the courtesy light part of the switch went bad, could that be the source of my problem? can the dimmer prevent the gauge lights from working at all?
once again thanks...carmen s.
reference the switch...i'm thinking that there should be continuity across that pillar and/or white wire when the **** is turned all the way over to activate the courtesy lights but there is not.
also, come to think of it, i haven't actually closed the doors and checked to see if the the **** activates the courtesy lights or not. i'll check that when i check the power across the fuse.
if the courtesy light part of the switch went bad, could that be the source of my problem? can the dimmer prevent the gauge lights from working at all?
once again thanks...carmen s.
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 43
Likes: 5
From: hammonton nj
tonight i decided to take the switch out of the dash before bothering with the fuse test since i figured it would be easier to work with out of the dash. using your advice about pressing the button the **** assembly came right out...(thanks!!!). when i got it out the coil assembly for the dimmer just fell to pieces so hopefully i've found my problem. i've ordered a new switch for about 41$...thanks again...cs
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 43
Likes: 5
From: hammonton nj
just wanted to thank everyone who replied...the issue was the dimmer switch as suggested and i learned some more about my car by diving into the dash (again)...trouble shooting electrical problems always seems to lead to my biggest challenge with my car. thank goodness for good ol' dad since he is an electrician and always helps me although even he gets stumped when it comes to some of the things you come across on these old vettes.
thanks again...carmen s.
thanks again...carmen s.