Dash Lights, are dim.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,255
Likes: 82
From: Brampton Ont.
Dash Lights, are dim.
My 75 Vette has been stored for 26 years and I recently got it back on the road.
I noticed that all the dash lights are very dim at the highest level, could this be a result of every bulb becoming weak after not being used for so many years, or maybe a bad contact in the headlight switch. The lights dim when I turn the headlight switch but it goes gradually from 0% to 50%. All bulb are the same intensity across the whole dash and center dash section. I was also thinking maybe a weak ground?
Any thoughts.
I noticed that all the dash lights are very dim at the highest level, could this be a result of every bulb becoming weak after not being used for so many years, or maybe a bad contact in the headlight switch. The lights dim when I turn the headlight switch but it goes gradually from 0% to 50%. All bulb are the same intensity across the whole dash and center dash section. I was also thinking maybe a weak ground?
Any thoughts.
Last edited by Maymyvetteliveforevr; Mar 30, 2016 at 01:34 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,427
Likes: 1,560
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
To bypass the rheostat:
You can jumper from the 'courtesy light fuse' to the 'instrument light fuse' and if the bulbs get brighter then the rheostat is bad.
Our instrument lights are not as bright as the new cars.
You can jumper from the 'courtesy light fuse' to the 'instrument light fuse' and if the bulbs get brighter then the rheostat is bad.
Our instrument lights are not as bright as the new cars.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,255
Likes: 82
From: Brampton Ont.
Thanks for the reply Peterbuilt
When you say "jumper", I assume that means place a fused wired after the courtesy light fuse to before the Instrument light fuse. This way you're providing full power to the dash lights and bypassing the rheostat which acts as a dimmer switch for the dash lights?
When you say "jumper", I assume that means place a fused wired after the courtesy light fuse to before the Instrument light fuse. This way you're providing full power to the dash lights and bypassing the rheostat which acts as a dimmer switch for the dash lights?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,427
Likes: 1,560
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Yes, by supplying 12 volts directly to the instrument light fuse you are bypassing the rheostat.
