Dead Gauges
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Dead Gauges
Redid the whole interior on my 77
everything worked great before
and does now !
EXCEPT !!!
When I pull on the lights
the gauges go dead ???
they light up, but die ??
Any help appreciated
Rick
everything worked great before
and does now !
EXCEPT !!!
When I pull on the lights
the gauges go dead ???
they light up, but die ??
Any help appreciated
Rick
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 1
From: grand prairie texas
When you are saying that the gauges go dead do you mean all the gauges quit working? I dont really know what would stop all the gauges from working. The first thing I would check is the ground behind the cluster but you say that the dash lights are working. Possibly the pc board
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: VANDERBILT PA
When I did my entire interior on my 79L-82 I replaced the boards and the headlight switch, now which one was the problem? I'm guessing the cir. board was but check the headlight switch that dims the interior lights to include your gauges!
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,850
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Ricksrag,
One question, when you installed the headlamp switch did you make sure the metal ground was in there. This is a flat section of metal that grounds the headlamp to the speedometer. If you left this out, then this is your problem!
If this ground was installed, then you need to check the ground at the A pillar. This is located under the driver side dash pad right above the kick panel. This ground is the main ground for the dash harness. (black wire with a loop).
If this is not the problem, you may have a number one body mount ground problem.
What is happening is you are back feeding to the center gauge cluster when the headlamps are pulled on!
I had this exact same problem in my shop about 15 years ago!
You have a ground issue for sure, where it’s at you’ll look real hard to find! The headlamps are seeking a ground on you and the first and best ground they can find is the center dash gauges.
Willcox Inc.
One question, when you installed the headlamp switch did you make sure the metal ground was in there. This is a flat section of metal that grounds the headlamp to the speedometer. If you left this out, then this is your problem!
If this ground was installed, then you need to check the ground at the A pillar. This is located under the driver side dash pad right above the kick panel. This ground is the main ground for the dash harness. (black wire with a loop).
If this is not the problem, you may have a number one body mount ground problem.
What is happening is you are back feeding to the center gauge cluster when the headlamps are pulled on!
I had this exact same problem in my shop about 15 years ago!
You have a ground issue for sure, where it’s at you’ll look real hard to find! The headlamps are seeking a ground on you and the first and best ground they can find is the center dash gauges.
Willcox Inc.
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Sep 9, 2008 at 08:27 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 267
From: Austin Texas
Corvette of the Year Winner 2017
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
do the tach and speed-o lights also go out?
do the instrument gauges die ? do the center Instrument lights die ?
I thought the gnd. on the head light switch was only for the bypass
(Dome light) but I am only going from memory tonight. 69VETT
do the instrument gauges die ? do the center Instrument lights die ?
I thought the gnd. on the head light switch was only for the bypass
(Dome light) but I am only going from memory tonight. 69VETT
