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Old Nov 16, 2008 | 05:30 PM
  #1  
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Default Dash lights

My gauges work, tach works, Gen light comes on, seat belt light also works, but I had no dash lights? I installed new printed circut and new light switch, checked all light bulbs, fuses, but still no dash lights, all other lights work??? Is all the dash lights on one fuse??
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Old Nov 16, 2008 | 06:08 PM
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did you turn the light switch to make the lights brighter?
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Old Nov 16, 2008 | 06:31 PM
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Originally Posted by 1nicecorvette
did you turn the light switch to make the lights brighter?
Yes, I installed a new one, thinking the old one wasn't working?
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Old Nov 17, 2008 | 07:55 AM
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okay you installed a new one. sometimes its just the matter of not turning the **** to make the lights brighter but not in this case then (hey we've all been there) im thinking you have a wire crossed up / backwards somewhere those light switches are a real bear to get in and out so doing it once is all i would need to do.

there are no lights on the guage faces either? how about dome interior lights?
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Old Nov 17, 2008 | 08:14 AM
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Originally Posted by kidmerc
Yes, I installed a new one, thinking the old one wasn't working?
Put a test light on the inst lamp fuse(try both sides of fuse) with the lights pulled on,rotate the ****,if you dont get power then your prob is back towards the headlight switch--if you get power then the prob is towards the inst lights themselves.This will tell you which direction to go.
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Old Nov 17, 2008 | 08:16 AM
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Have you checked the ground? It sounds like a ground problem. On my 77 there is a ground stud on the back of the speedo and tach cluster and the center cluster is grounded thru the connector plug black wire.
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Old Nov 17, 2008 | 08:16 AM
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It only takes two things to make the lights work. 12 volts and ground. Measure on any bulb contact or on the wiring or printed circuit strip to a known good ground. If you don't have 12 volts, start tracing back toward the switch, see if you have it coming into the switch. If not, go toward the fuse box. Just logically follow the path back. You can also put 12 volts on any of the bulb contacts and the bulbs should all light up. If you have the 12 volts, then you don't have the printed circuit grounded. Turn on the lights, ground to a known good ground any point on the circuit board that should be grounded. The easiest thing at this point would be a blown fuse, but I'd hate to think you changed the circuit and switch first. Look for the voltage, that's what lights the bulbs.
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Old Nov 17, 2008 | 01:41 PM
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OK guys, DWncchs, WNMECH, 65GGVERT, I have lights............I checked from fuse to switch, had power, so I plugger in speed/tach and I had lights....now the only thing I did was change fuses again for the third time?? Could I have had two bad fuses in a row?? or maybe I moved something and made ground contact, who nows, but a very big THANK YOU ALL.............now I can work on my turn signals that won't cancel......thanks again guys..........
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Old Nov 17, 2008 | 02:55 PM
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Just a tip:
Dash lights and rear running (parking) lights are on the same fuse. If you have a short in the rear lights the lack of dash lights is supposed to alert the driver to the lack of lights in the rear of the car.

If the fuse blows frequently the issue may be at the rear of the car.
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Old Nov 17, 2008 | 03:04 PM
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Well you just thru the blown fuse out the window, all the lights including the tail/parking were working while all this was going on?? Now I have to wonder why they started working, haha, thanks for all the help.....
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