Instrument cluster lights
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Instrument cluster lights
Commerative C5 Z06. Noticed a delay of 3-4 seconds after turning headlights on b4 instrument cluster lite up. Next night drive same thing only the delay lasted about a minute. Next night drive, no instrument lights at all or since. Radio and climate control are ok. Heads up is OK. Dealer says out of warrantee, what should I do? I'm not a mechanic or nearly up on this tech stuff as the post contributors I have been reading so please keep it in layman terms. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,816
Likes: 16
From: Anchorage Alaska
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
Hi,
I think what your problem is, is that you have a bad headlight switch. It's basically the part that has your headlight **** and blinker arm, that sits in your steering column. It's all one assembly. What happens inside this switch is, when you turn your headlights on with that switch at the end, a series of gears inside cause some contacts to close. This triggers things like the headlights popping up, the dash lights turning on, etc.
Now, if you turn on the headlights but don't get the dash lights, what's likely happening is that the contacts inside the headlight switch aren't closing fully. The problem is probably there, and not in your instrument cluster as you might initially think. A good way to test this is to turn on your headlights, and when you see that your dash lights are not working, go check your tail lights. If they, too, don't work, then I'd be willing to bet your headlight switch is bad. Another way to confirm this, is to turn the key to the "ACC" position (engine OFF, of course). Your instrument cluster should light up, even if it doesn't when the car is running. So, be careful driving at night. You probably don't have tail lights. Brake lights WILL work, however, because the brakes are not controlled by the headlight switch like the taillights are. Also, with a bad headlight switch, your HUD will still work, and your climate control will still work. Your radio lights, will NOT work. If all these are true, it's further evidence towards a bad headlight switch.
Replacing this switch is not too difficult. I did a write-up on it that you can follow with just some basic hand tools. The switch, I'm told, can cost several hundred dollars... OR you can repair the switch itself. This is what I did. Within my writeup, is a link to another writeup on repairing the switch.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=2032925
Hope this helps!
I think what your problem is, is that you have a bad headlight switch. It's basically the part that has your headlight **** and blinker arm, that sits in your steering column. It's all one assembly. What happens inside this switch is, when you turn your headlights on with that switch at the end, a series of gears inside cause some contacts to close. This triggers things like the headlights popping up, the dash lights turning on, etc.
Now, if you turn on the headlights but don't get the dash lights, what's likely happening is that the contacts inside the headlight switch aren't closing fully. The problem is probably there, and not in your instrument cluster as you might initially think. A good way to test this is to turn on your headlights, and when you see that your dash lights are not working, go check your tail lights. If they, too, don't work, then I'd be willing to bet your headlight switch is bad. Another way to confirm this, is to turn the key to the "ACC" position (engine OFF, of course). Your instrument cluster should light up, even if it doesn't when the car is running. So, be careful driving at night. You probably don't have tail lights. Brake lights WILL work, however, because the brakes are not controlled by the headlight switch like the taillights are. Also, with a bad headlight switch, your HUD will still work, and your climate control will still work. Your radio lights, will NOT work. If all these are true, it's further evidence towards a bad headlight switch.
Replacing this switch is not too difficult. I did a write-up on it that you can follow with just some basic hand tools. The switch, I'm told, can cost several hundred dollars... OR you can repair the switch itself. This is what I did. Within my writeup, is a link to another writeup on repairing the switch.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=2032925
Hope this helps!
Last edited by Alaskanpilot; Aug 19, 2008 at 09:43 PM.
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Thanks Alaskan Pilot. All in your message checks out except that I do have a radio light. Dash/cluster do come on when door opens but slightly dimmer. No tail lights just as quorted. Will get to disassemble in the next couple of days(or so), will let you know how it goes. Photo guide is really helpful. Dealer here wants $315 where switch is available on line for $165. I'll rebuild first!
