1982TA

iTrader: (1)

This just happend to me tonight. I went to push the button to turn on my parking lights and as far as I knew they were working. Since it was dusk out I was looking at my interior gauges and noticed I didn't really see them lit. I checked out the dimmer and it was on full power. I checked the dome light and it went on. So I keep driving and still can't see the gauge lights on so I cup the speedometer to get rid of some glare and they are black. So I thought I would turn on the headlights to see if they would come on. Headlights pop up no problem and come on. Interior lights still off. So I push the button to turn off the headlights and they stay in the up position but turn off. I turn them back on and continue home. When I get there I turn them off again and still they are up but turn off. I push the parking light button and noticed that the parking lights don't come on. I checked the back of the car and the taillights don't come on. I tried pushing the brake and the taillights came on, and I put the car in reverse and the reverse lights come on. So basically I get no parking lights, no interior lights, and headlights won't go down. It also seemed that I didn't get any side marker lights also, but I'm not really sure cause I wasn't really paying attention. Does anyone have any idea what might cause this? Is it possible I blew a fuse? I know that the bulbs aren't burned out because they were fine yesterday. I checked the shop manual but it doesn't really have anything for this problem. I just don't get why I don't get any interior lights when I push the parking light switch or headlight switch. Is it possible the switch went bad? If so, this shouldn't have anything to do with the headlights staying up does it, or the interior lights not coming on? If the headlights come on how could it be the switch? It's dark out right now so I'm not checking any fuses till tomorrow.

Trickster

Yes that sounds like you have a blown "TAIL" fuse.

1982TA

iTrader: (1)

Does this control the interior lights, parking lights, and headlight motors though?? I looked in the shop manual and it didn't even say anything about a fuse for the headlight motors so I don't know what group it's in...


just checked the book...it shows the tail lights have a fuse of it's own. Also the instrument panel has it's own fuse for lights. It's unlikely I blew 2 fuses at once...and this still doesn't explain the headlight situation.

Trickster

If you will recheck your book, you will notice that the headlight switch operates off the "TAIL" fuse. There are also two fusible links associated with the headlight doors. There are also two relays for the headlight doors as well as an isolation relay and two actuator switches for the motors. You will also notice that the instrument lights work off two fuses. The "TAIL" fuse & the "INST" fuse with the "INST" fuse getting power from the "TAIL" fuse through the interior lights control panel. If either fuse fails you will lose the instrument lights, shifter light, defog light, & radio light. If just the "TAIL" fuse goes you will lose the above mentioned lights as well as the turn lights, parking lights, marker lights, tail lights, & license lights. The back-up lights work off a seperate circuit. BTW, what shop manual are you looking at? I am looking at the 1982 GM Pontiac firebird service manual.

1982TA

iTrader: (1)

I'm also using the GM shop manual. Maybe I'm looking at the wrong section...chassis electrical is where I was looking. I kinda just looked over it real quick. Also, my clock radio lights up. Would this be running off of the fuses you mentioned? When I get home from work I'll check out the fuses.

1982TA

iTrader: (1)

I checked the fuses today...it was a 20 amp fuse that was blown. I put in a new one and the headlights retracted and all my interior lights worked

Trickster