While I'm waithing for a part...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 455
Likes: 7
From: Lewes Delaware
While I'm waithing for a part...
I tore into the front dash over the past 2 days. Did a radio and front speaker install, replaced all of the bulbs I could find, replaced the insulation on the transmission hump, and removed the headlight switch (not working). While I'm waiting for a new switch and heater/ac face plate rebuild kit to arrive, is there anything else I should do before buttoning this back up? I don't want to have to do this again anytime soon.
Also, when I removed the headlight switch I noticed a burned spot on the wiring harness (top wire closest to the dash). The wire and connector look undamaged, just the plastic harness looks burned. Any idea what would have caused this much heat?
Also, when I removed the headlight switch I noticed a burned spot on the wiring harness (top wire closest to the dash). The wire and connector look undamaged, just the plastic harness looks burned. Any idea what would have caused this much heat?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 455
Likes: 7
From: Lewes Delaware
The majority of the burn mark is on the empty hole next to the green wire. There is some around the green wire as well but not as much. I have a new switch ordered from you but now I'm wondering if I should do something with the harness. My headlights work fine and I have light at the speedo and tach (when the headlight switch is turned toward dim) but I don't have any lights on my gauges.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
72 right?
Dark Brown is your tail lamps
White is courtesy lamps
Orange runs to to the fuse panel
Red runs to the fuse panel and to the ignition switch
Dark green runs to the fuse panel and is what powers up the dash lamps.. when it hits the fuse it comes out gray.. This controls all lamps on the gray wire circuit too... Dash and small cluster.
Funny the burnt spot is next to the green wire.. you may have a short somewhere too..
So.. I think with the switch plugged in.. turn on the dash lamps and see if you have power on the gray wires at the small gauge cluster.. use a separate ground because what you are looking for is a ground issue on these gauges. If you light up on the test light with power and the small lamps still don't work then you need to make sure the small gauge cluster ground is attached.
Willcox
Dark Brown is your tail lamps
White is courtesy lamps
Orange runs to to the fuse panel
Red runs to the fuse panel and to the ignition switch
Dark green runs to the fuse panel and is what powers up the dash lamps.. when it hits the fuse it comes out gray.. This controls all lamps on the gray wire circuit too... Dash and small cluster.
Funny the burnt spot is next to the green wire.. you may have a short somewhere too..
So.. I think with the switch plugged in.. turn on the dash lamps and see if you have power on the gray wires at the small gauge cluster.. use a separate ground because what you are looking for is a ground issue on these gauges. If you light up on the test light with power and the small lamps still don't work then you need to make sure the small gauge cluster ground is attached.
Willcox
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 455
Likes: 7
From: Lewes Delaware
72 right?
Dark Brown is your tail lamps
White is courtesy lamps
Orange runs to to the fuse panel
Red runs to the fuse panel and to the ignition switch
Dark green runs to the fuse panel and is what powers up the dash lamps.. when it hits the fuse it comes out gray.. This controls all lamps on the gray wire circuit too... Dash and small cluster.
Funny the burnt spot is next to the green wire.. you may have a short somewhere too..
So.. I think with the switch plugged in.. turn on the dash lamps and see if you have power on the gray wires at the small gauge cluster.. use a separate ground because what you are looking for is a ground issue on these gauges. If you light up on the test light with power and the small lamps still don't work then you need to make sure the small gauge cluster ground is attached.
Willcox
Dark Brown is your tail lamps
White is courtesy lamps
Orange runs to to the fuse panel
Red runs to the fuse panel and to the ignition switch
Dark green runs to the fuse panel and is what powers up the dash lamps.. when it hits the fuse it comes out gray.. This controls all lamps on the gray wire circuit too... Dash and small cluster.
Funny the burnt spot is next to the green wire.. you may have a short somewhere too..
So.. I think with the switch plugged in.. turn on the dash lamps and see if you have power on the gray wires at the small gauge cluster.. use a separate ground because what you are looking for is a ground issue on these gauges. If you light up on the test light with power and the small lamps still don't work then you need to make sure the small gauge cluster ground is attached.
Willcox
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 455
Likes: 7
From: Lewes Delaware
Been finding a lot of unhooked wires that I'm trying to trace too. Fun and games, I luv it!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 455
Likes: 7
From: Lewes Delaware
72 right?
Dark Brown is your tail lamps
White is courtesy lamps
Orange runs to to the fuse panel
Red runs to the fuse panel and to the ignition switch
Dark green runs to the fuse panel and is what powers up the dash lamps.. when it hits the fuse it comes out gray.. This controls all lamps on the gray wire circuit too... Dash and small cluster.
Funny the burnt spot is next to the green wire.. you may have a short somewhere too..
So.. I think with the switch plugged in.. turn on the dash lamps and see if you have power on the gray wires at the small gauge cluster.. use a separate ground because what you are looking for is a ground issue on these gauges. If you light up on the test light with power and the small lamps still don't work then you need to make sure the small gauge cluster ground is attached.
Willcox
Dark Brown is your tail lamps
White is courtesy lamps
Orange runs to to the fuse panel
Red runs to the fuse panel and to the ignition switch
Dark green runs to the fuse panel and is what powers up the dash lamps.. when it hits the fuse it comes out gray.. This controls all lamps on the gray wire circuit too... Dash and small cluster.
Funny the burnt spot is next to the green wire.. you may have a short somewhere too..
So.. I think with the switch plugged in.. turn on the dash lamps and see if you have power on the gray wires at the small gauge cluster.. use a separate ground because what you are looking for is a ground issue on these gauges. If you light up on the test light with power and the small lamps still don't work then you need to make sure the small gauge cluster ground is attached.
Willcox
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,423
Likes: 1,558
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Do you have this ground wire connected, it's about even with the bottom left side of the dash and screwed into the "A" pillar.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 455
Likes: 7
From: Lewes Delaware
Could this be caused by a defective headlight switch? I have a new one on order and it should be here later this week.
Last edited by medic1555; Oct 17, 2011 at 04:12 PM.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 557
Likes: 15
From: Royal Oak Michigan
Here are a few pics of the rats nest I found. Literally and figuratively. My father stored the car in his barn for 10 years, and the mice packed the vents with carpet pad, and firewall material. Pretty neat huh? Also someone installed an after market radio and spliced into a bunch of wires.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,423
Likes: 1,558
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
I checked the connection this morning. With the switch plugged in and turned on, I have power to the small cluster gauge lights when using a different ground. Now the big question...where is the ground for the small cluster gauge lights? Also, I have one console light that works but it is a 2 wire light (grey and black). I assume it's on a different circuit.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 455
Likes: 7
From: Lewes Delaware
Thank all of you that offered advice, and a big thanks to Wilcox. Now just need to sit back and relax until the parts arrive. Or...maybe I can find something else that needs fixing...lol.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 455
Likes: 7
From: Lewes Delaware
Holy cow!! I just took my dash apart on Friday, and I have a burn on my headlight switch wire harness. I will take a pic when I get home and see if it looks like yours. I just ordered the replacement harness from Corvette Central today, but maybe I should change the switch too while I am there?
Here are a few pics of the rats nest I found. Literally and figuratively. My father stored the car in his barn for 10 years, and the mice packed the vents with carpet pad, and firewall material. Pretty neat huh? Also someone installed an after market radio and spliced into a bunch of wires.
Here are a few pics of the rats nest I found. Literally and figuratively. My father stored the car in his barn for 10 years, and the mice packed the vents with carpet pad, and firewall material. Pretty neat huh? Also someone installed an after market radio and spliced into a bunch of wires.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 557
Likes: 15
From: Royal Oak Michigan
Here is the pic of my burnt wire harness. Mine is on the blue wire although there is a little singe near the green. Everything works ok with the lights (headlights and dash lights). I do have other electric problems, but none right in the area of the burnt spot.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,664
Likes: 162
From: columbia city in
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
crafty.. that harness is on sale in the forum section of the site sad to say.. 
However... you have a mouse car and that can be a major issue. Make sure to check all harness's in the car not just the inside. I lost a car one time to a mouse.. He ate the red lead at the distributor and it got ugly when the wire hit a ground.
Pete.. is always spot on with his help and he nailed it. Thanks for picking up my slack Pete, I've been gone most of the day and wondered where this tread was at.
Medic.. thank you for the kind words... I'll be around if you need help again..
However... you have a mouse car and that can be a major issue. Make sure to check all harness's in the car not just the inside. I lost a car one time to a mouse.. He ate the red lead at the distributor and it got ugly when the wire hit a ground.
Pete.. is always spot on with his help and he nailed it. Thanks for picking up my slack Pete, I've been gone most of the day and wondered where this tread was at.
Medic.. thank you for the kind words... I'll be around if you need help again..
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Just remember our "dimming" rheostat is a rather old simple design and when you dim the dash lights the rheostat starts to heat up, if driving around at night with you dash lights dimmed touch the headlight switch below the **** 
Pro
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 557
Likes: 15
From: Royal Oak Michigan
Thats good advice. I do not cruise with the lights dimmed, but somebody sure could have.
Wilcox,
I buy things from you too.
and your video helped me do my mech to electric tach swap. Thats why my dash is apart in the first place.