C6 Corvette General Discussion General C6 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: Feral Industries

Instrument Panel Dimmer Switch

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 29, 2012 | 06:20 PM
  #1  
Jimsan's Avatar
Jimsan
Thread Starter
Pro
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 587
Likes: 5
From: Aurora Colorado
Default Instrument Panel Dimmer Switch

The dimmer dial on my car quit working -- I push it, it turns on the interior map lights under the rearview mirror, but will not dim the instument panel at night. Any one with this problem? Any ideas on how to get the switch out for repair/replacement without taking apart the dash and cowling?
Appreciate any help on this!
Reply
Old Feb 29, 2012 | 06:24 PM
  #2  
eboggs_jkvl's Avatar
eboggs_jkvl
Moderator emeritus
20 Year Member
Veteran: Army
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 18,599
Likes: 3,954
From: Jacksonville Florida BWO Dayton, Cincinnati, Bloomsbury NJ, Cincinnati
2015 C7 of the Year Finalist
Default

It is a rheostat. You twist and hold clockwise to brighten or you twist and hold counter clockwise to darken.

Elmer
Reply
Old Feb 29, 2012 | 06:33 PM
  #3  
Jimsan's Avatar
Jimsan
Thread Starter
Pro
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 587
Likes: 5
From: Aurora Colorado
Default

Yes, am aware of the rheosat function--nothing happens when I turn the dial to dim or brighten the instrument panel lights.
Reply
Old Feb 29, 2012 | 09:22 PM
  #4  
Gearhead Jim's Avatar
Gearhead Jim
Team Owner
Supporting Member
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,019
Likes: 2,712
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Default

A minor point, do the headlights need to be on for the panel lights switch to have an effect? If the headlights are off, don't the instrument lights automatically go full bright?

If you turn on the interior lights by pushing the switch, do the instrument lights go full bright also?

Of course, if it isn't dark enough for the headlights to be on, then it's difficult to tell much about the instrument lights.


Waiting to be educated...
Reply
Old Feb 29, 2012 | 10:50 PM
  #5  
vetteright's Avatar
vetteright
Drifting
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,507
Likes: 76
From: Marshall, Missouri
Default

Originally Posted by Jimsan
Yes, am aware of the rheosat function--nothing happens when I turn the dial to dim or brighten the instrument panel lights.
You have to turn and hold.
Reply
Old Mar 1, 2012 | 12:03 AM
  #6  
Grzldvt1's Avatar
Grzldvt1
Le Mans Master
Veteran: Army
25 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 5,515
Likes: 646
From: Silicon Valley and Yosemite, CA
Default

Plus it dims and brightens very, very slowly. I thought mine was broken too, but I just kept holding it and eventually saw a very subtle change.
Reply
Old Mar 1, 2012 | 12:26 AM
  #7  
Vette_DD's Avatar
Vette_DD
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Top Answer: 3
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
Likes: 1,319
From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
Default

Originally Posted by vetteright
You have to turn and hold.
Right. The 2005 owner's manual did not contain the additional instruction to hold it. My 2008 owner's manual does.

Turn and hold the **** clockwise to brighten the lights or
counterclockwise to dim them.
Reply
Old Mar 1, 2012 | 12:41 AM
  #8  
cranky's Avatar
cranky
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,326
Likes: 5
From: louisville "derby city" kentucky
Default

it is NOT a rheostat. it is a function switch the instrument panel cluster uses to brighten or dim the gauges when the headlights are on. you must HOLD it left or right to get the unit to brighten or dim the gauge cluster.
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 Mar 1, 2012 | 09:13 PM
  #9  
Jimsan's Avatar
Jimsan
Thread Starter
Pro
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 587
Likes: 5
From: Aurora Colorado
Default

Thanks to everyone for the comments! I will try the turn and hold technique-- all else works perfect, but the bright panel lights are simply too disconcerting when the sun goes down.

Reply
Old Jun 10, 2013 | 07:17 PM
  #10  
Sam Green's Avatar
Sam Green
3rd Gear
 
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Default

I can't get my instrument lights to come on>
Reply
Old Jun 10, 2013 | 07:18 PM
  #11  
Sam Green's Avatar
Sam Green
3rd Gear
 
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Default

I'm sorry I have a 2000 convertible.
Reply
Old Jun 10, 2013 | 08:56 PM
  #12  
Vette_DD's Avatar
Vette_DD
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Top Answer: 3
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
Likes: 1,319
From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
Default

Originally Posted by Sam Green
I'm sorry I have a 2000 convertible.
Try C5 General.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-general-103/
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Instrument Panel Dimmer Switch





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:32 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