Another electrical mystery!!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 13
From: Doha
St. Jude Donor '08
Another electrical mystery!!
While I was test-driving my newly rebuilt engine/tranny, everything was running fine after about 1 hour of driving it, except when I passed by a friend's house and stayed around 30 min., and when I got in the car I was surprised by a non working parking lights and dash lights!! .. everything else was working just fine (head lights, high beam, brake lights, signals) .. I checked all the fuses and all were OK, I dont think its the switch because it lights the head lights fine. I just spent a long time checking what I can reach and making sure all the connections are OK, what do you think the problem is?? .. Have anyone faced the same problem before??
the car was so nice and the newly installed hydroboost brake is the best thing I did, I feel the car is so driver-freindly now, except for that electrical mystery which really ruined my day!
the car was so nice and the newly installed hydroboost brake is the best thing I did, I feel the car is so driver-freindly now, except for that electrical mystery which really ruined my day!
Instructor
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 112
Likes: 1
From: Chadds Ford PA
Time for a new headlight switch
One line is on a dimmer, the other is not. The only thing the two circuits have in common is the headlight switch. If they both went out at the same time, I'd be surprised if the problem was anything other than the switch. The park and dash lights are on a separate circuit inside the switch, so the fact that the headlights are working is of no diagnostic value.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 13
From: Doha
St. Jude Donor '08
Is there anyway that I can test the switch before starting tearing the newly installed dash apart?? .. I've just spent painful hours installing the dash back last month and I really hate to do it again!! .. esp. if the problem was something else than the switch! 
Do you think I can reach and replace the switch by prying the top side of the dash a bit?
Do you think I can reach and replace the switch by prying the top side of the dash a bit?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,030
Likes: 363
From: Lubbock Texas
Lowering the column that small amount gave me extra room to work. At that point, if your hands aren't huge, you should be able to replace the switch.
DC
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 13
From: Doha
St. Jude Donor '08
I replaced the switch, still no parking/dash/console lights, I checked all the fuses and all are OK, headlights are fine, dimmer switch is OK, what could be the problem?? .. can anyone help me pin-pointing the problem source? .. I'm beggining to lose my hair!!
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From: Pittsfield, Ohio
I had the gauge light / fuse problems 2 years. Almost all illumination bulbs burned out constantly. Tore dash apart after I bought it and found the PO had mice issues... screwed up several wires and they were shorting out. Easy to spot the problem for me. not much time need with a meter due to the obvious. Took about 2 hours to correct just the wires. Be carefull if you pull the dash, don't take much to damage old trim..
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 13
From: Doha
St. Jude Donor '08
I had the gauge light / fuse problems 2 years. Almost all illumination bulbs burned out constantly. Tore dash apart after I bought it and found the PO had mice issues... screwed up several wires and they were shorting out. Easy to spot the problem for me. not much time need with a meter due to the obvious. Took about 2 hours to correct just the wires. Be carefull if you pull the dash, don't take much to damage old trim..
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From: Pittsfield, Ohio
Well at least that will help narrow it down a bit. Get at it with a meter and try to isolate circuits. Look for what they all have in common like grounds, fuses, etc. Good luck!
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 3
From: Aurora Ontario
Just went through this exact same thing on another members problem. follow this link
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...atic-help.html
The power should be coming from the orange wire for the dash lights if I read the manual correctly. The orange is fused in the panel...should be marked Tail/LP fuse 20 amp. Check the orange for power. Do your tail lights work? The power should go through the switch to the brown which powers up the tail lights,rear marker lights, directional switch and licence plate light.
Check the orange wire at the switch for power. if no power follow it back to the fuse panel. The dash lights draw from the orange too.
Jim
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...atic-help.html
The power should be coming from the orange wire for the dash lights if I read the manual correctly. The orange is fused in the panel...should be marked Tail/LP fuse 20 amp. Check the orange for power. Do your tail lights work? The power should go through the switch to the brown which powers up the tail lights,rear marker lights, directional switch and licence plate light.
Check the orange wire at the switch for power. if no power follow it back to the fuse panel. The dash lights draw from the orange too.
Jim
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 13
From: Doha
St. Jude Donor '08
What gave me the false impression is that it looked fine, and thats the second fuse problem since I re-installed the dash. It seems I got a real bad quality fuses here.