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Old 09-16-2013, 12:26 PM   #1
clapage6
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Bypassing Factory Headlight/Dimmer Switch

Hi all,

Currently in the process of fixing up my new toy hauler : 83 K30 CC Dually originally a 6.2 but converted to 454 which is possibly where some of their wiring problems started, bulk head connector at the fire wall looks pretty melted looking from the engine bay as well. BUT seems to work mostly...

It had some wiring problems when i acquired it so I'm doing my best to just negate those problems by bypassing a few things . One being the headlight/dimmer switch. The switch itself and it's connector + maybe 2inches of wire back from the connector were all melted and no lights worked etc.

In order to get it home originally I just got that out and threw a fused toggle switch in for the headlights/brake/running lights.

Right now I just need to get the dash lights working mainly, dome light would be awesome as well... I tried looking threw some wiring diagrams and idk if I'm just not smart enough or what but i can't seem to figure out exactly how my remaining wires work, ie: what should/shouldn't have 12v and what should/shouldn't get ground to complete which circuit.

The wires I have left:
2 orange wires which splice into each other.
1 yellow wire.
1 white wire.

What doesn't work:
High Beams
Dome Light
Dash/gauge Lights.

Any help or insight into those 3 circuits/wire colors would be an amazing help! Sorry for the lengthy post
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Old 09-16-2013, 01:47 PM   #2
willett
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Re: Bypassing Factory Headlight/Dimmer Switch

I believe orange and white feed your dome light and the other orange feeds under dash.
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Old 09-16-2013, 02:36 PM   #3
clapage6
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Re: Bypassing Factory Headlight/Dimmer Switch

Quote:
Originally Posted by willett View Post
I believe orange and white feed your dome light and the other orange feeds under dash.
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nice, so after reading that i went back to the wiring diagram and it looks like you're correct, the orange like 12v to dome light and the white is ground for the dome which must have gotta grounded when the switch was on.

as far as I can tell I'm looking for a dark grn to the dash lights... which I can't seem to find ha... Thanks for the reply dude
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Old 09-16-2013, 03:55 PM   #4
motornut
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Re: Bypassing Factory Headlight/Dimmer Switch

i think its yellow, light switch to stalk dimmer
joined orange and white,
would it reach under pass dash?
pass side foot well, dome i believe there is some with joined two orange wires to that socket ,and white too
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Old 09-16-2013, 10:52 PM   #5
willett
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Re: Bypassing Factory Headlight/Dimmer Switch

Dome light circuit burned up in my cab before it was on my truck. Maybe a short in the the headlight switch?
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Old 09-16-2013, 10:55 PM   #6
clapage6
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Re: Bypassing Factory Headlight/Dimmer Switch

Perhaps, mine looked really bad and all melted together, not sure how it didn't end up burning the truck down whenever it happened, I fused everything that I ran on taggles now so I have some piece of mind.

Ended up finding the green wire for the dash lights
Orange was the dome
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Old 09-17-2013, 09:27 AM   #7
motornut
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Re: Bypassing Factory Headlight/Dimmer Switch

Quote:
Originally Posted by clapage6 View Post
Perhaps, mine looked really bad and all melted together, not sure how it didn't end up burning the truck down whenever it happened, I fused everything that I ran on taggles now so I have some piece of mind.

Ended up finding the green wire for the dash lights
Orange was the dome
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i think we need pics
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Last edited by motornut; 09-17-2013 at 09:36 AM.
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Old 09-17-2013, 11:51 AM   #8
clapage6
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Re: Bypassing Factory Headlight/Dimmer Switch

Quote:
Originally Posted by motornut View Post
i think we need pics
hehe I just put my dash back together after I got everything working but I can snap some next time I'm in there if it would help someone else.

what I have currently is:

brown = tail/brake/running lights (just not cab lights)
single black coming down from a-pillar = cab lights
"Drk-grn" = dash/gauge lights
double orange = dome light
yellow wire went from the switch down to high/low dimmer
white = ground (which I'm not using)
and red was power (which I'm also not using)

which seems to be supported here:
http://www.73-87chevytrucks.com/tech..._inter_pg2.jpg
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