KZad

My dash lights have a worse temper then my Alcohol Abusing Uncle. They work/dont work whenever they feel like it. By not working I mean absolutely no light - spedo, tack, fuel, batter, all of them. Also the AIR/Heat and switches dont light up, or my headlight button that is supposed to light up.

I've tried to fix this a million times, however i am not very electrically inclined. I have taken off the dash and checked out the circuit on the back to make sure its not broken, cleaned all the contacts with a pencil eraser, and inspected all the wires that I could find. The problem there is that all the wires are joined together behind the dash in a huge cluster that I dont wanna take appart.

I did find one wire that the coating was melted and the wire was pretty corroded (spelling?). Anyhow, i didnt replace that wire ... i just taped it up with electrical tape. I dont remember where the wire went, I can look again.

Anyone have a similar problem with their dash lights? Could this maybe be from some moron who owned the car before me putting a fuse that was too large in the Dash lights spot and frying something?

Any information appreciated,

KZAD

Mikes86SC

Your dimmer switch could be screwed up. On my Camaro if I turn the headlight **** to adjust the dash light brightness, they don't dim smoothly. They fliker on and off a little. But as long as they stay on when I'm driving I'm satisfied.

MikeInAZ

I agree with Mike86. The dimmer is a rheostat .... much like an old TV or radio tuner or a volume control. They get dirty, scratchy, sludgey.

Use an "electronic cleaner" to flush it out while you're turning it. Also be careful not to get it all over the plastic surrounding it. It might fade it out white.

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KZad

i tried replacing the dimmer switch once already, but there is a possibility that the new one i got was bad also since i got it from a junk yard.

the other wierd thing about my dash lights is that ... sometimes when i hit a hard bump the dash lights will either turn on, or off ... depending their current status.

very confusing.

MikeInAZ

That would be a loose ground wire. Since one action (wire) affects all your lights. I would start tracing at the dimmer back.

Kj Rockz

Yup, had the same problem.
It also happend to be an 88 Firebird.

It was a wire grounding out.

I ended taking it to the dealer, it wasn't that much.

Like $200 bucks. That includes the rediclous "Just to look at your car" price...

If you know a good car repair place that specializes in electrical, take it there. It will be less

Otherwise, have fun tracing the wires to find the ground out...

KZad

Thats' the one thing that I was afraid of... a wire grounding out. Right behind the dash the dash wires join in with every other wire in the world it seems. The wire cluster is easily over an inch thick. I guess i will just take a day and go hunting. Thanks.

88 Firebird you say? ... how ironic. Did u look to see if maybe there was a call-back or anything?

KZAD

MikeInAZ

I would at least investigate "behind the dash" for this reason. You can't believe how many times coins, paper clips, staples or a piece of solder has been dropped inside the dash components.

They will wreak havoc on an electrical system.