Notices
C5 General General C5 Corvette and C5 Z06 Discussion not covered in Tech

Still more C5 Electrical problems.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 16, 2007 | 10:46 PM
  #1  
jsullivan's Avatar
jsullivan
Thread Starter
5th Gear
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Default Still more C5 Electrical problems.

2002 coup. At night with the light switch on, I have no dash lights and no rear lights. Head lights, brake, turn signals front and rear work fine. When I unlock the car all lights flash as they should. When I turn off the lights and ignition at night the dash lights stay on until they time out. I will be checking grounds tomorrow. Fuses check good. Bulbs are good. What else could it be?
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2007 | 12:23 AM
  #2  
Silverbullet00's Avatar
Silverbullet00
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 18,643
Likes: 14
From: Norman Oklahoma - The Only State in the Union with no Blue Counties!
Default

Start your car,,,then turn on all the lites, headlites, etc. then without turning off any lites,,,turn off ignition,,,wait a few seconds and then restart the engine,,,I know it sounds nuts but our cars are nuts some times. It only happened to me once and that combo of SH*T "fixed" mine. No problems since! Good Luck!
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2007 | 01:30 AM
  #3  
Bill Dearborn's Avatar
Bill Dearborn
Tech Contributor
25 Year Member
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,817
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Default

Originally Posted by jsullivan
2002 coup. At night with the light switch on, I have no dash lights and no rear lights (Do you mean the tailights)??. Head lights, brake, turn signals front and rear work fine. When I unlock the car all lights flash as they should. When I turn off the lights and ignition at night the dash lights stay on until they time out. I will be checking grounds tomorrow. Fuses check good. Bulbs are good. What else could it be?
Do your underhood, glove box, vanity mirror and map lights work when this is happening?

Do your side marker and license plate lights work??

Do your door, fog lamp/rear compartment switch and HVAC Control lights work?

I suspect you may have a problem in the parking lamp circuit. The instrument panel lights are tied into the park light circuit which provides power to the front and rear park lights and the backlight for the switches on the inside rear mirror if you have them. Fuse number 6 and Relay 43.
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2007 | 02:55 AM
  #4  
Vette-kid's Avatar
Vette-kid
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,193
Likes: 156
From: Navarre FL
Default

OK this sounds like a really stupid question, I dont mean to insult anyones intelligence (which im not ever sure I spelled right )and the only reason I bring it up is that I had a similiar problem and this fixed it. Did you make sure the dimmer switch isnt turned all the way down? Took me an hour to try that! Also did you do any mods right before you got this problem?
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2007 | 06:21 AM
  #5  
Bigcountry7's Avatar
Bigcountry7
Drifting
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,864
Likes: 0
From: Hopewell Junction NY
Default

I have this same exact problem in my 2000. Wasn't sure how to fix it. I have the LED tailights installed and wasn't sure if that was the source. I also noticed that this doesn't happen in warmer weather for me. Not quite sure what the problem is but I will use everyone's advice.
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2007 | 11:35 AM
  #6  
jsullivan's Avatar
jsullivan
Thread Starter
5th Gear
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Default

Thanks all. Of course I tried the simple things first. start the car, turn on the lights, turn off the car, no luck. Checked the dimmer, no luck.
Yes, the vanity, glove box, map lights all work.
No, rear side marker, tag, or running lights, door, or fog lamps. Not working.
I will be back and forth checking the forum. I don't think it's a ground problem but am going to do the clean up on them today anyway. For some reason I am leaning to a relay or switch. Fuses check good.
Any ideas let me know.
After all what better way to spend fathers day than playing with my favorite toy. I really love this car, and have had no problems for over 100K miles. So I am not upset, just need to correct the problem.
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2007 | 11:41 AM
  #7  
LLVETTE's Avatar
LLVETTE
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 947
Likes: 1
From: Lower Lake Ca
Default

Tail lights are almost always tied to dash lights, if dash lights are not working then the tail lights are not working in most cases. I'd concentrate on fuses, switches and relays in that circuit.
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2007 | 11:44 AM
  #8  
ptdrummer54's Avatar
ptdrummer54
Safety Car
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,208
Likes: 2
From: Rochester MN
CI 5-6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
NCM Ambassador
Default

I did a little searching last night, but didn't find anything conclusive. There were a few mentions of replacing the turn signal stock though.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 17, 2007 | 11:45 AM
  #9  
jimmymc's Avatar
jimmymc
Racer
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 493
Likes: 0
From: stl mo
Default

Reply
Old Jun 17, 2007 | 01:03 PM
  #10  
jsullivan's Avatar
jsullivan
Thread Starter
5th Gear
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Default

Well the grounds are done. I didn't see any problems though, in fact they looked new. Number six fuse shows 14.2 volts while running with lights on across both sides. So let me think, fuse has voltage, the light switch should only energize the lighting relays, closing the contacts completing the lighting circuits. which means either the switch is bad not getting the voltage to the relay or the relay is bad.
Maybe its time to button it up, pop the top on a cold one, turn on the radio, put on another coat of Zaino. and start on the lights again tomorow.
Thoughts?
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2007 | 01:14 PM
  #11  
LLVETTE's Avatar
LLVETTE
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 947
Likes: 1
From: Lower Lake Ca
Default

Originally Posted by jsullivan
Well the grounds are done. I didn't see any problems though, in fact they looked new. Number six fuse shows 14.2 volts while running with lights on across both sides. So let me think, fuse has voltage, the light switch should only energize the lighting relays, closing the contacts completing the lighting circuits. which means either the switch is bad not getting the voltage to the relay or the relay is bad.
Maybe its time to button it up, pop the top on a cold one, turn on the radio, put on another coat of Zaino. and start on the lights again tomorow.
Thoughts?
especially the cold one!
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2007 | 01:19 PM
  #12  
DavzC5's Avatar
DavzC5
Drifting
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,977
Likes: 9
From: Houston, TX www.djmotorsportaccessories.com Specializing in C5 & C6 Accessories. DJ Motorsport Accessories.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Default

The harzard switch could be going out. Do a search and you'll find same problems that your saying.
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2007 | 01:48 PM
  #13  
jsullivan's Avatar
jsullivan
Thread Starter
5th Gear
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Default

Interesting thought on the hazard switch. I think I'll search and check. Before the cold one.
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2007 | 02:00 PM
  #14  
trymyz's Avatar
trymyz
Advanced
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City MO
Default

This happened to me recently, The #6 fuse was not blown, but it was not making good contact. Try to move it around with your finger a have someone see if your lights come back on. It's worth a try.
Reply
Old Jun 29, 2007 | 10:52 AM
  #15  
Bigcountry7's Avatar
Bigcountry7
Drifting
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,864
Likes: 0
From: Hopewell Junction NY
Default

Any update on this?
Reply
Old Jul 7, 2007 | 04:03 AM
  #16  
FRCBobby's Avatar
0FRCBobby
Former Vendor
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,276
Likes: 0
From: Pikeville KY
Default

Update?? Mine did this exact same thing tonight.
Reply
Old Jul 7, 2007 | 04:35 AM
  #17  
DeeGee's Avatar
DeeGee
Tech Contributor
20 Year Member
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Default

Originally Posted by jsullivan
2002 coup. At night with the light switch on, I have no dash lights and no rear lights. Head lights, brake, turn signals front and rear work fine. When I unlock the car all lights flash as they should. When I turn off the lights and ignition at night the dash lights stay on until they time out. I will be checking grounds tomorrow. Fuses check good. Bulbs are good. What else could it be?
Try this thread which may help. In this guys case it was a ground but there are a few other things to try out:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ght+electrical

Theres a site here with all the electrical schematics which may help you troubleshoot.

http://www.redshift.homestead.com/schematics.html

Last edited by DeeGee; Jul 7, 2007 at 05:17 AM.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Still more C5 Electrical problems.





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:53 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE