No Dash Lights - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Foureye71 · 03-10-2019, 12:24 AM

Hey all my truck lost its dash lights but all my other lights work as they should. Im by no means an electric wiz but ive tried some basic things like cleaning the part of the dash the light switch goes on and a new light switch.
Edit: forgot to mention they used to work but decided they didn't want to anymore a while back.

**Curtb1971** · 03-10-2019, 12:57 AM

Couple things to check. There is a ground on the bottom lip of the dash that is clipped on the metal part of the dash (right behind the oil gauge). It is notorious for causing dash light issues. Clean up with a piece of sandpaper. Also check the pnl lts fuse on the upper right of your fuse panel for a blown fuse.

**Curtb1971** · 03-10-2019, 01:07 AM

Ground wire and clip location

Foureye71 · 03-10-2019, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curtb1971

Couple things to check. There is a ground on the bottom lip of the dash that is clipped on the metal part of the dash (right behind the oil gauge). It is notorious for causing dash light issues. Clean up with a piece of sandpaper. Also check the pnl lts fuse on the upper right of your fuse panel for a blown fuse.

Sweet Ill have to check those spots out tomorrow.

Mike C · 03-10-2019, 09:37 AM

My experience with loss of dash lights is the rheostat coil breaks on the original headlight switch. I've lost two in the 30 years I've had my Jimmy.

Try rotating it through it's full swing a couple of times. Sometimes it's just a poor connection between the knob and the spring.

Foureye71 · 03-10-2019, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike C

My experience with loss of dash lights is the rheostat coil breaks on the original headlight switch. I've lost two in the 30 years I've had my Jimmy.

Try rotating it through it's full swing a couple of times. Sometimes it's just a poor connection between the knob and the spring.

Ive replaced the switch already but ill take another look at it just to be sure

bill3rail · 03-10-2019, 08:56 PM

As it was stated, check your ground!

Bill

Foureye71 · 03-10-2019, 10:12 PM

Ok so I got and checked everything that was suggested and I couldn't find anything that did not look right and my cluster still has no lights.

The fuse was wasn't blown and the ground clip and wire looked fine, but I did sand off the paint that was on the part of the dash it clips to. The switch also looked good.

The ground wire going to the printed circuit looked good, but I did clean up all the contacts on the connector. I did notice one ground screw on the printed circuit was loose in its hole so I replaced it with one that fit better. Im also missing a few sockets for blubs on the back side of the cluster, could that be causing the cluster to light up?

**Curtb1971** · 03-10-2019, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foureye71

Ok so I got and checked everything that was suggested and I couldn't find anything that did not look right and my cluster still has no lights.

The fuse was wasn't blown and the ground clip and wire looked fine, but I did sand off the paint that was on the part of the dash it clips to. The switch also looked good.

The ground wire going to the printed circuit looked good, but I did clean up all the contacts on the connector. I did notice one ground screw on the printed circuit was loose in its hole so I replaced it with one that fit better. Im also missing a few sockets for blubs on the back side of the cluster, could that be causing the cluster to light up?

Hmm, not having some light sockets in wouldn't effect others working. I'm at a loss without seeing it. If you have some time to shoot up north this week I would be more than happy to take a look at it and we'll be able to hunt your electrical gremlin there.

Foureye71 · 03-10-2019, 10:58 PM

..

**Curtb1971** · 03-10-2019, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foureye71

Not sure if I can get up there during the week, but I'll more than likely be able to head up that way during the weekend, Saturday maybe?

That works, I'm there all day Saturday. Shouldn't take long with a test light and multimeter

Foureye71 · 03-10-2019, 10:30 PM

pic of connector to cluster. from a previous reply contact #7(far left) should be the ground

**Boog** · 03-10-2019, 10:40 PM

You've probably already removed the cleaned the harness to cluster connector right? You could probably use a test light on the connector to see that power is getting from the light switch to the cluster.

Foureye71 · 03-10-2019, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boog

You've probably already removed the cleaned the harness to cluster connector right? You could probably use a test light on the connector to see that power is getting from the light switch to the cluster.

Ill try that tomorrow. Does anyone have a wiring diagram for the cluster connector?

03-10-2019, 12:24 AM	#1
Foureye71 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 148	No Dash Lights Hey all my truck lost its dash lights but all my other lights work as they should. Im by no means an electric wiz but ive tried some basic things like cleaning the part of the dash the light switch goes on and a new light switch. Edit: forgot to mention they used to work but decided they didn't want to anymore a while back. __________________ '71 K1500 Short-Wide

03-10-2019, 12:57 AM	#2
Curtb1971 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Erie Colorado Posts: 1,022	Re: No Dash Lights Couple things to check. There is a ground on the bottom lip of the dash that is clipped on the metal part of the dash (right behind the oil gauge). It is notorious for causing dash light issues. Clean up with a piece of sandpaper. Also check the pnl lts fuse on the upper right of your fuse panel for a blown fuse. __________________ 1971 LSX "Bonnie" build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=8026381 paypal is curtbarton1971@yahoo.com

03-10-2019, 01:07 AM	#3
Curtb1971 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Erie Colorado Posts: 1,022	Re: No Dash Lights Ground wire and clip location Attached Images __________________ 1971 LSX "Bonnie" build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=8026381 paypal is curtbarton1971@yahoo.com

03-10-2019, 09:37 AM	#5
Mike C Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Austin, TX, USA Posts: 7,723	Re: No Dash Lights My experience with loss of dash lights is the rheostat coil breaks on the original headlight switch. I've lost two in the 30 years I've had my Jimmy. Try rotating it through it's full swing a couple of times. Sometimes it's just a poor connection between the knob and the spring. __________________ 44 Willys MB 52 M38A1 64 Corvette Coupe 68 Camaro 'vert LT1 & TH700 69 Z/28 355 12.6's @110 69 Chevy Short Step 4 1/2"/7" drop 72 Jimmy 4WD 4spd 4" & 35's 02 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Duramax

03-10-2019, 10:12 PM	#8
Foureye71 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 148	Re: No Dash Lights Ok so I got and checked everything that was suggested and I couldn't find anything that did not look right and my cluster still has no lights. The fuse was wasn't blown and the ground clip and wire looked fine, but I did sand off the paint that was on the part of the dash it clips to. The switch also looked good. The ground wire going to the printed circuit looked good, but I did clean up all the contacts on the connector. I did notice one ground screw on the printed circuit was loose in its hole so I replaced it with one that fit better. Im also missing a few sockets for blubs on the back side of the cluster, could that be causing the cluster to light up? __________________ '71 K1500 Short-Wide

03-10-2019, 08:56 PM	#7
bill3rail Registered User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: LI, NY 11801 Posts: 1,140	Re: No Dash Lights As it was stated, check your ground! Bill __________________ 1970 C10 8' Fleetside, L6 250, 3 on the Tree. The most basic of pickup trucks!

03-10-2019, 10:58 PM	#10
Foureye71 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 148	Re: No Dash Lights .. __________________ '71 K1500 Short-Wide

03-10-2019, 10:30 PM	#12
Foureye71 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 148	Re: No Dash Lights pic of connector to cluster. from a previous reply contact #7(far left) should be the ground Attached Images __________________ '71 K1500 Short-Wide Last edited by Foureye71; 03-10-2019 at 10:55 PM.

03-10-2019, 10:40 PM	#13
Boog laying low Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Searcy, Ark. USA Posts: 13,445	Re: No Dash Lights You've probably already removed the cleaned the harness to cluster connector right? You could probably use a test light on the connector to see that power is getting from the light switch to the cluster. __________________ Boog 69 Chevy stepside, 358/T350, 4.11 posi, 4.5/4 drop, rallys, poboy driver primer is finer 91 Chevy sportside, Tahoe, Yukon & GMC Crewcab All GM..'nuff said. I stand for the flag and kneel at the cross

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