Need help with Dash lamps not working.

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May 15, 2010 | 06:07 PM

dogboy

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Melting Slicks

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From: Orlando,Fl,USA

Need help with Dash lamps not working.

Its a 77, I had replaced an evap unit & shorted something out. I replaced the guage fuse and they came back to live. I replaced the inst lmp fuse but still no go. I played with the dimmer on the headlamp switch to no avail. What else should I be looking for. I did have the center guage panel out and it all happened when I placed everything back together. I was a dummy for not disconnecting the battery when I did the job.

May 15, 2010 | 07:16 PM

72LS1Vette

Safety Car

Joined: Aug 2001

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From: North Easton Mass

Quote:

Originally Posted by dogboy

If you shorted a wire by abarading the insulation it wouldn't have mattered if the battery was connected or not. I happen to have the same problem. My dash lights were working until a few weeks ago and now the fuse blows. I also had the gauge cluster out and I'm figuring that I cut a wire somewhere in the harness with one of the metal brackets under the radio. There are individual wires for each bulb but they all have a common power source somewhere back there. The 77 may power the lights from the circuit board if it has one. Check to make sure you didn't put a screw in without an insulator that may be touching a power trace.

Rick B.

Last edited by 72LS1Vette; May 15, 2010 at 07:19 PM.

May 15, 2010 | 08:15 PM

...Roger...

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From: Dayton, Ohio

Cut you a piece of wire and strip both ends,attach one end to 12v in the fuse box like one of the BATT taps, take the other end and scratch the INST lamp fuse end and see if the inst lights flicker,if they do then your not getting power to the INST fuse from the green wire coming from the HL switch
OR if you have a 12v test light pull the HL switch out and check both sides of the INST light fuse while rotating the HL switch ****.
You said you replaced the INST light fuse-- did it blow or is it still good ?

May 15, 2010 | 09:22 PM

dogboy

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Melting Slicks

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From: Orlando,Fl,USA

Quote:

Originally Posted by ...Roger...

I will recheck that fuse in the am, I havn't had a chance to look for a few days. Good info here I will try all & keep you posted.
Thanks

May 16, 2010 | 04:50 PM

dogboy

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Melting Slicks

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From: Orlando,Fl,USA

Fuse replaced 2 times and it blew out.

May 16, 2010 | 05:06 PM

...Roger...

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From: Dayton, Ohio

Pull the center cluster back down and check the big plug going into the printed circuit.Pay close attention to the little thin copper contacts,one is probably folded over.

May 16, 2010 | 06:16 PM

dogboy

Thread Starter

Melting Slicks

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From: Orlando,Fl,USA

Roger that

Sorry I just had to say that. But yea I will look at that next. I did have that apart but I didn't think that was part of the circuit for the dash lights.
I'll keep you posted.
Thanks again

May 22, 2010 | 05:56 PM

dogboy

Thread Starter

Melting Slicks

Joined: May 2000

Posts: 2,305

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From: Orlando,Fl,USA

Quote:

Originally Posted by ...Roger...

Pull the center cluster back down and check the big plug going into the printed circuit.Pay close attention to the little thin copper contacts,one is probably folded over.

UPDATE:
I did as you said & bingo . I saw it right away the copper was crossed over another strand and twisted in the corner. I was able to flatten & straighten out the copper strand. I taped the area down flat and that was the fix. dash lights are back.
Thanks for the help