Gauge lights help - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

stachcold · 12-09-2005, 03:14 PM

A while back I rewired my 72 Jimmy with a painless wiring kit. I wired the guage lights, the heater light, and the cig. lighter light all together so when you turned them on they all turned on at the same time. Everything WAS working fine but now all of a sudden only the heater light turns on and not the cig. lighter light or the gauge lights. The turn signals both still work. I checked the fuse and it was good, ran over the wiring and it looked good, and I tried a different set of gauges with the same result. I also tried to move the harness that plugs into the gauges around to see if there was a loose connection and that didn't do anything. Any idea?

Wrenchbender Ret · 12-09-2005, 05:10 PM

There is a reostat on your light switch that could have gone bad. Or it could be the printed circuit on the back of the instrument panel.

**john** · 12-09-2005, 06:22 PM

Dont forget the inst panel ground wire. John

stachcold · 12-09-2005, 11:27 PM

The wire harness ground is still hooked up and I even added a extra ground to the panal a while back because the first ground wasn't the best. Could there be another ground that I am missing? Everything did work before and I don't remember changing any thing around. I put in a new headlight switch a little while ago but kept the old one around "just in case" and they both do the same thing. I was thinking it might be the printed circuit but I tried a different set of gauges with the same results. What I don't get is the heater light is coming on but not the gauge lights and cig lighter light. They are all wired together, shouldn't they all come on or none of them come on?

jhow66 · 12-10-2005, 12:16 PM

Remove plug from dash cluster and take a test light to the gray wire to see if you are getting power (light switch on). This will give you a place to start. If not there maybe two fuses protecting the lights.

z7199 · 11-30-2006, 02:42 PM

was there ever any kinda fix for this I am having a little issue with my heater lights (headlight switch smoking)

Longhorn Man · 11-30-2006, 03:26 PM

it sounds to me, like where ever you conbined all the wires to one, there may be a bad connection. If you soldiered the connection, my bet is that the wires broke just fore or aft of the solder...the wire gets real stiff and brittle on either side of a solder repair, and is nor suited for a harsh environment...that's why I use crimp ons myself... but I'm sure to get flamed for that.
The trouble shooting steps that come to mind, that can be ignored....
The fuse is good. Your parking lights and heater light still work
Ground is fine you could double check them, but my gut says they are fine.
Light switch is fine
Again, the heater lamp is working
assume the bulbs are all fine... you swapped out the cluster with the same results

12-09-2005, 03:14 PM	#1
stachcold Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: St. Clair Michigan Posts: 26	Gauge lights help A while back I rewired my 72 Jimmy with a painless wiring kit. I wired the guage lights, the heater light, and the cig. lighter light all together so when you turned them on they all turned on at the same time. Everything WAS working fine but now all of a sudden only the heater light turns on and not the cig. lighter light or the gauge lights. The turn signals both still work. I checked the fuse and it was good, ran over the wiring and it looked good, and I tried a different set of gauges with the same result. I also tried to move the harness that plugs into the gauges around to see if there was a loose connection and that didn't do anything. Any idea?

12-09-2005, 05:10 PM	#2
Wrenchbender Ret Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Overland Park, Ks. Posts: 5,206	Re: Gauge lights help There is a reostat on your light switch that could have gone bad. Or it could be the printed circuit on the back of the instrument panel.

12-09-2005, 06:22 PM	#3
john member #16 Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Yuba City Ca. Posts: 3,618	Re: Gauge lights help Dont forget the inst panel ground wire. John __________________ john http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showgroups.php board vendors http://www.flickr.com/photos/1745471...7602865984234/

12-09-2005, 11:27 PM	#4
stachcold Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: St. Clair Michigan Posts: 26	Re: Gauge lights help The wire harness ground is still hooked up and I even added a extra ground to the panal a while back because the first ground wasn't the best. Could there be another ground that I am missing? Everything did work before and I don't remember changing any thing around. I put in a new headlight switch a little while ago but kept the old one around "just in case" and they both do the same thing. I was thinking it might be the printed circuit but I tried a different set of gauges with the same results. What I don't get is the heater light is coming on but not the gauge lights and cig lighter light. They are all wired together, shouldn't they all come on or none of them come on?

12-10-2005, 12:16 PM	#5
jhow66 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Knoxville Tenn. Posts: 3,058	Re: Gauge lights help Remove plug from dash cluster and take a test light to the gray wire to see if you are getting power (light switch on). This will give you a place to start. If not there maybe two fuses protecting the lights. __________________ 56 Chevy Bel-Air 2dr. HT (purchased new) 71 Chevy Cheyenne SWB PU (502HO) 65 GMC short bed step--work in progress and my gofer

11-30-2006, 02:42 PM	#6
z7199 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Houston TX Posts: 76	Re: Gauge lights help was there ever any kinda fix for this I am having a little issue with my heater lights (headlight switch smoking) __________________ 99 nbs 5.3L x-cab Hypertech programmer True dual 1 chamber flowmasters magnaflow x-pipe 3" PA body lift 315/75/16 BFG All Terrian 15.3 @ 89mph 72' C20 402ci sc,lb in bed tool box, and new paint http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/456511/1

11-30-2006, 03:26 PM	#7
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Gauge lights help it sounds to me, like where ever you conbined all the wires to one, there may be a bad connection. If you soldiered the connection, my bet is that the wires broke just fore or aft of the solder...the wire gets real stiff and brittle on either side of a solder repair, and is nor suited for a harsh environment...that's why I use crimp ons myself... but I'm sure to get flamed for that. The trouble shooting steps that come to mind, that can be ignored.... The fuse is good. Your parking lights and heater light still work Ground is fine you could double check them, but my gut says they are fine. Light switch is fine Again, the heater lamp is working assume the bulbs are all fine... you swapped out the cluster with the same results



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