help w/dashlights... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Sinister · 04-01-2002, 11:11 PM

dashlight problem...
turnsignal indicator,brightlights indicator, all gauges work...
dash lamps replaced...
light switch and dimmer switch replaced...
still no dash lights...

CoryM · 04-01-2002, 11:24 PM

Check to see if you have power at the light sockets, I think all the lights except glovebox light go through the printed circuit on the back of the instrument cluster. Those printed scircuits dont like to be mishandled much before the wires break.
If you do not have power there see if you have power on the back of the printed circuit. Find one of the copper lines that goes to a bulb and stick test light on. Then if you still dont have power test the wire that leads to the printed circuit. Ill bet you will have power in wire going to circuit and there is a break in circuit. If you DO have power at the sockets you know you have a ground problem.
Good Luck and let me know if you need some clarification.
CoryM

------------------
1970 heavy duty C-10 fleetside sport truck. Vancouver B.C. Canada
http://www.geocities.com/chevroletc1070

"Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high."
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, Canadian Army

nroden · 04-02-2002, 01:21 AM

Don't be like me last week. Turned out that I just couldn't see them in the daytime like I thought I could because they worked at night. My green is kind of faded I think.

------------------
Nick Rodenberg
Wellington, MO
http://nickrod.port5.com
You can click on "My 72 Chevy Truck"
I have a 72 Cheyenne 10 with a V8 350 and a TH-350 auto-tranny.
White/Ochre/White
Runs well... working on body.
Hoping to have completed in March when I turn 16

O'l Buck · 04-02-2002, 01:55 AM

fuses ok???

------------------
'72 Chevy 1/2T 4x4 shortbox stepside 350/350auto on '84
ralleys and 31/10.5s

67 Cutlass convertible
330, 3spd stick

90 GMC Jimmy
350/auto
Chad Stephens
Orleans,NE

TERRYP · 04-02-2002, 02:52 AM

Power to the dash lights comes from the light switch. Power in is the orange wire, dimmed power out is the green wire. If you get no voltage at the green wire, your rheostat is bad. then the green wire goes to the fuse bos to a fuse, and out to the dash via a gray wire. you should have voltage with the dash lights turned to bright and the lights on on both sides of that fuse. if only one side, the fuse is bad. If the printed circuit is bad, you can jump over breaks by removing the plastic clear coating over the copper, and soldering a bridge over the break.

Blazer1970 · 04-02-2002, 08:09 AM

It is common for the little black bayonet mount sockets to go bad. They just wont make contact with the light bulb. If you have one that works, try switching it to different locations to see if some or all of the other sockets are bad.

------------------
Tim

71Chev · 04-02-2002, 10:21 AM

I have figured out that just because a switch, or whatever part, is new, doesn't always mean it's good.

------------------

71 Chevy CST Long Fleet 350/350/3.07 leaf rear.
Email: 67-72truckparts@nanosecond.com

Sinister · 04-02-2002, 04:20 PM

thanks y'all...
i'm gonna get out there and see what i can do...
and i'll get back to ya...

Sinister · 04-02-2002, 08:02 PM

aargghh!!!
got voltage at the orange wire...
got voltage at the green wire...
no power at the lamp sockets...
bayonets all good...
bulbs all good..
got continuity on the printed circuit...

TerryP (or somebody)...
which fuse runs the dash?
is it the "panel lights" one?
all the fuses seem alright...

71GMC_3/4T · 04-02-2002, 08:34 PM

Well if you got voltage, you must not have ground. Got an ohmmeter?
Is your panel bolted in? I'm not sure where it gets ground - the harness or chassis of instrument panel. If it's a wire, look for a loose bolt where it's tied to the chassis. If in doubt, remove the bolt, scrape it clean and reinstall it with a star washer.

Sinister · 04-02-2002, 10:26 PM

got continuity on the printed circuit
as in no breaks in the wiring...(from lamp to lamp etc.)
got no voltage at the lamp sockets.
i pulled the dash out today to see what was up...
got some voltage at the connector (jack)...
at a black wire, and two gray wires...
got bright light indicator, turn signal indicator, the brake warning light lights up when cranking, but no dash lights...

TERRYP · 04-03-2002, 03:53 AM

If you have power at the green wire, it goes to a fuse in green, out gray, check for juice on the gray wire, am not sure where the fuse is, should be at one corner of fuse block, dark green in, lt gray out. Touch your voltmeter on both ends of fuse. If gray is hot, unplug connector from dash, check for hot at the gray wire there, if good there, must have a break on dash circuit.

------------------
Everett, Washington
57 3/4 rat, 235, 3spd
66 C-10 Panel, SWB. 350 from '68, 200R4 tranny, 3.55 rear ratio, restoring
68 C10 LWB 250 from '66 4spd, dump runner
82 Camaro, 305, THM-200-R4
84 Monte Carlo 305 TH350, land tuna
85 Tercel SW, snow runner

Andy4639 · 04-03-2002, 04:07 AM

My 71 has a ground wire attached to the back of the dash going straight to ground. If you are looking at the dash from the seat it is the little screw on the back the circuit board just goes around it, but doesn't make contact with it. I have left it loose before and all kinds of stuff will happen with the dash lights. You can ground it anywhere I would think as long as it didn't interfer with the circuit board.

------------------
Andy
71's Are for ever!!! or 67,68,69,70,72 http://geocities.com/chevy71tpi/main.html

Sinister · 04-04-2002, 12:22 AM

got em working!!!
its like a different truck...
thanks y'all for being so patient...

Hooter · 04-04-2002, 03:05 AM

ain't it nice to not have to have a flashlight taped to the steering coloumn!

------------------

69 custom camper/cst 10
70 monte carlo
73 chevelle 4 door
deluxe"kermit": no carpet(rubber floor) no floor, no trunk still drives
74 cheyenne super 20 454
77 fully loaded silverado
that my Grandpa gave me
1980 BMW 320i(at least it isnt Japanese)
1984 Buick skyyhwak that i won
1972 Honda ct 90 trailbike

Castlegar B.C.The great white North (Canada Aye!)
Hooter_5@hotmail.com AC/DC RULES!!!
www.castlegar.com

71Chev · 04-04-2002, 08:59 AM

So ya gonna tell us what fixed it?

------------------

71 Chevy CST Long Fleet 350/350/3.07 leaf rear.
Email: 67-72truckparts@nanosecond.com

REPO1 · 04-04-2002, 10:14 AM

Heh heh heh, those damn dash lights are tricky. Mine have worked perfectly fine until last night, I was messing with the wiring around the wiper motor. Once done, I packed up and left the shop. No dash lights.

WTF!! I checked everything under the dash, but couldn't find the problem. Well I say F##K it and head home. Just pulling into my driveway they come on.

Now I have no clue what did that.

------------------
Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Canada

1970 Chevy C20 Custom Camper
#s matching 402BB Turbo 400 trans.
Air conditioning, power steering, manual brakes.
73,600 Original Miles!!
(Add on 2000 more from raod trip!)

04-01-2002, 11:11 PM	#1
Sinister Between Trucks... Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA. Posts: 3,830	help w/dashlights... dashlight problem... turnsignal indicator,brightlights indicator, all gauges work... dash lamps replaced... light switch and dimmer switch replaced... still no dash lights... __________________ Beat it to fit, Paint it to match...

04-01-2002, 11:24 PM	#2
CoryM Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Surrey, B.C. , Canada Posts: 874	Check to see if you have power at the light sockets, I think all the lights except glovebox light go through the printed circuit on the back of the instrument cluster. Those printed scircuits dont like to be mishandled much before the wires break. If you do not have power there see if you have power on the back of the printed circuit. Find one of the copper lines that goes to a bulb and stick test light on. Then if you still dont have power test the wire that leads to the printed circuit. Ill bet you will have power in wire going to circuit and there is a break in circuit. If you DO have power at the sockets you know you have a ground problem. Good Luck and let me know if you need some clarification. CoryM ------------------ 1970 heavy duty C-10 fleetside sport truck. Vancouver B.C. Canada http://www.geocities.com/chevroletc1070 "Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high." Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, Canadian Army __________________ 1970 heavy duty C-10 fleetside sport truck. Vancouver B.C. Canada http://www.geocities.com/chevroletc1070 "Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high." Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, Canadian Army

04-02-2002, 01:21 AM	#3
nroden Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 1,098	Don't be like me last week. Turned out that I just couldn't see them in the daytime like I thought I could because they worked at night. My green is kind of faded I think. ------------------ Nick Rodenberg Wellington, MO http://nickrod.port5.com You can click on "My 72 Chevy Truck" I have a 72 Cheyenne 10 with a V8 350 and a TH-350 auto-tranny. White/Ochre/White Runs well... working on body. Hoping to have completed in March when I turn 16 __________________ Nick Rodenberg 72 Cheyenne 10 V8 350/TH350 white/ochre/white/ochre, ochre/saddle interior Retired and in the dry... still runs. I now drive Red '01 Ford Focus... better MPG!!!

04-02-2002, 01:55 AM	#4
O'l Buck Recovering Truck Driver Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Orleans, NE USA Posts: 1,883	fuses ok??? ------------------ '72 Chevy 1/2T 4x4 shortbox stepside 350/350auto on '84 ralleys and 31/10.5s 67 Cutlass convertible 330, 3spd stick 90 GMC Jimmy 350/auto Chad Stephens Orleans,NE __________________ 67 K-20 350, SM465, Eaton rear, 4.56 no spin option 00 Dodge 2500 4x4, 24V cummins, 5 speed Chad South Central Nebraska

04-02-2002, 02:52 AM	#5
TERRYP GYRO GEARLOOSE Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Nevada City, CAEverett, WA Posts: 361	Power to the dash lights comes from the light switch. Power in is the orange wire, dimmed power out is the green wire. If you get no voltage at the green wire, your rheostat is bad. then the green wire goes to the fuse bos to a fuse, and out to the dash via a gray wire. you should have voltage with the dash lights turned to bright and the lights on on both sides of that fuse. if only one side, the fuse is bad. If the printed circuit is bad, you can jump over breaks by removing the plastic clear coating over the copper, and soldering a bridge over the break. __________________ Nevada City, CA Everett, Washington 57 3/4 rat, 235, 3spd 66 C-10 Panel, SWB. 350 from '68, 200R4 tranny, 3.07 rear ratio, restoring 68 C10 LWB 350 4spd, 4.56 rear dump runner 82 Camaro, 305, THM-200-R4 84 Monte Carlo 305 TH350, land tuna 85 Tercel SW, snow runner DISGRACED OUTLAW MEMBER OF THE DRUM BRAKE CLUB

04-02-2002, 08:09 AM	#6
Blazer1970 Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Old Mission, MI, USA Posts: 2,510	It is common for the little black bayonet mount sockets to go bad. They just wont make contact with the light bulb. If you have one that works, try switching it to different locations to see if some or all of the other sockets are bad. ------------------ Tim __________________ Tim

04-02-2002, 10:21 AM	#7
71Chev Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Indiana Posts: 3,074	I have figured out that just because a switch, or whatever part, is new, doesn't always mean it's good. ------------------ 71 Chevy CST Long Fleet 350/350/3.07 leaf rear. Email: 67-72truckparts@nanosecond.com __________________ 71 Chevy CST Long Fleet 350/350/3.07 leaf rear.

04-02-2002, 04:20 PM	#8
Sinister Between Trucks... Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA. Posts: 3,830	thanks y'all... i'm gonna get out there and see what i can do... and i'll get back to ya... __________________ Beat it to fit, Paint it to match...

04-02-2002, 08:02 PM	#9
Sinister Between Trucks... Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA. Posts: 3,830	aargghh!!! got voltage at the orange wire... got voltage at the green wire... no power at the lamp sockets... bayonets all good... bulbs all good.. got continuity on the printed circuit... TerryP (or somebody)... which fuse runs the dash? is it the "panel lights" one? all the fuses seem alright... __________________ Beat it to fit, Paint it to match...

04-02-2002, 08:34 PM	#10
71GMC_3/4T Weapons Of Construction Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 1,095	Well if you got voltage, you must not have ground. Got an ohmmeter? Is your panel bolted in? I'm not sure where it gets ground - the harness or chassis of instrument panel. If it's a wire, look for a loose bolt where it's tied to the chassis. If in doubt, remove the bolt, scrape it clean and reinstall it with a star washer. __________________ 1971 GMC 2500, 402/TH400 4.10 Daily Driver Lafayette, CO

04-02-2002, 10:26 PM	#11
Sinister Between Trucks... Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA. Posts: 3,830	got continuity on the printed circuit as in no breaks in the wiring...(from lamp to lamp etc.) got no voltage at the lamp sockets. i pulled the dash out today to see what was up... got some voltage at the connector (jack)... at a black wire, and two gray wires... got bright light indicator, turn signal indicator, the brake warning light lights up when cranking, but no dash lights... __________________ Beat it to fit, Paint it to match...

04-03-2002, 03:53 AM	#12
TERRYP GYRO GEARLOOSE Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Nevada City, CAEverett, WA Posts: 361	If you have power at the green wire, it goes to a fuse in green, out gray, check for juice on the gray wire, am not sure where the fuse is, should be at one corner of fuse block, dark green in, lt gray out. Touch your voltmeter on both ends of fuse. If gray is hot, unplug connector from dash, check for hot at the gray wire there, if good there, must have a break on dash circuit. ------------------ Everett, Washington 57 3/4 rat, 235, 3spd 66 C-10 Panel, SWB. 350 from '68, 200R4 tranny, 3.55 rear ratio, restoring 68 C10 LWB 250 from '66 4spd, dump runner 82 Camaro, 305, THM-200-R4 84 Monte Carlo 305 TH350, land tuna 85 Tercel SW, snow runner __________________ Nevada City, CA Everett, Washington 57 3/4 rat, 235, 3spd 66 C-10 Panel, SWB. 350 from '68, 200R4 tranny, 3.07 rear ratio, restoring 68 C10 LWB 350 4spd, 4.56 rear dump runner 82 Camaro, 305, THM-200-R4 84 Monte Carlo 305 TH350, land tuna 85 Tercel SW, snow runner DISGRACED OUTLAW MEMBER OF THE DRUM BRAKE CLUB

04-03-2002, 04:07 AM	#13
Andy4639 Old member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S. Posts: 19,936	My 71 has a ground wire attached to the back of the dash going straight to ground. If you are looking at the dash from the seat it is the little screw on the back the circuit board just goes around it, but doesn't make contact with it. I have left it loose before and all kinds of stuff will happen with the dash lights. You can ground it anywhere I would think as long as it didn't interfer with the circuit board. ------------------ Andy 71's Are for ever!!! or 67,68,69,70,72 http://geocities.com/chevy71tpi/main.html __________________ 1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs.

04-04-2002, 12:22 AM	#14
Sinister Between Trucks... Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA. Posts: 3,830	got em working!!! its like a different truck... thanks y'all for being so patient... __________________ Beat it to fit, Paint it to match...

04-04-2002, 03:05 AM	#15
Hooter My other Love Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Castlegar B.C. Canada Posts: 4,083	ain't it nice to not have to have a flashlight taped to the steering coloumn! ------------------ 69 custom camper/cst 10 70 monte carlo 73 chevelle 4 door deluxe"kermit": no carpet(rubber floor) no floor, no trunk still drives 74 cheyenne super 20 454 77 fully loaded silverado that my Grandpa gave me 1980 BMW 320i(at least it isnt Japanese) 1984 Buick skyyhwak that i won 1972 Honda ct 90 trailbike Castlegar B.C.The great white North (Canada Aye!) Hooter_5@hotmail.com AC/DC RULES!!! www.castlegar.com __________________ Castlegar B.C.The great white North (Canada Eh!) Hooter_5@hotmail.com First generation Monte Carlo club pictures of my life



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04-04-2002, 08:59 AM	#16
71Chev Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Indiana Posts: 3,074	So ya gonna tell us what fixed it? ------------------ 71 Chevy CST Long Fleet 350/350/3.07 leaf rear. Email: 67-72truckparts@nanosecond.com __________________ 71 Chevy CST Long Fleet 350/350/3.07 leaf rear.

04-04-2002, 10:14 AM	#17
REPO1 Shortbox wanna-be. Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Fort St.John, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 773	Heh heh heh, those damn dash lights are tricky. Mine have worked perfectly fine until last night, I was messing with the wiring around the wiper motor. Once done, I packed up and left the shop. No dash lights. WTF!! I checked everything under the dash, but couldn't find the problem. Well I say F##K it and head home. Just pulling into my driveway they come on. Now I have no clue what did that. ------------------ Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Canada 1970 Chevy C20 Custom Camper #s matching 402BB Turbo 400 trans. Air conditioning, power steering, manual brakes. 73,600 Original Miles!! (Add on 2000 more from raod trip!) __________________ 1970 Chevy C20 Custom Camper 402BB Turbo 400 trans. (Slowly becoming a '70 shortbox 1/2 ton) '71 Camaro SS 402/T400 resto '97 Z28 (11.41@127MPH)

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