Maymyvetteliveforevr

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.

Peterbuilt

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.

Maymyvetteliveforevr

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?

Peterbuilt

Yes, by supplying 12 volts directly to the instrument light fuse you are bypassing the rheostat.

bgormonta59

Problems all solved! thank you all for reaching out on here or email to contact me of things to try!