dash lights blowing fuses - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

low 84 · 01-18-2005, 12:34 AM

the dash lights in the '80 4x4 keeps blowing their fuse. i can put a new fuse in and they will come on when the headlight handle is pulled and the ignition key is in the off position, but when i start the truck the fuse will blow.

any ideas whats causing the dash lights to short when i start the truck?

Blue Beard · 01-18-2005, 05:05 AM

Thread on problem similiar to this earlier. Upon checking the trailer wiring found the PO had used tape on the connection and the tape slid off exposing the wiring to short.

Just a thought.

low 84 · 01-18-2005, 01:26 PM

was that casuing just the dash lights to short or all the lights? the dash lights are on a different fuse than head and tail lights and my headlights and taillights are working fine

blink32 · 01-18-2005, 03:50 PM

Just going off what your describing it *might* be in the power circuit that powers the warning/indicator lights that your check engine type lights since it doesn't happen when the key is in the OFF position but it does when its in the other positions.

I do know that some(if not all) of the power for the printed circuit on the back of the gauges relies on power from your headlight switch. And at that point it ties in with grounds and power from other circuits so if there is malfunction in other circuits it could be an issue there.

I would pull the cluster and just take a look at the printed circuit. If everything looks find and no burnt wires I think the next step is to break out an ohm/multi- meter and start testing wires. Use the factory wiring manual and unplug the plug from the gauge cluster and start there. If you still blow the fuse after unplugging the cluster you'll know its before the cluster.

Took me a while to diagnose why I didn't have any dash lights at all and ended up being a bad headlight switch along with a bad printed circuit on the guage cluster.

low 84 · 01-18-2005, 05:47 PM

thanks man, i didn't think about the printed circuit, there might be a wire shorting to it, i'll have to look at it. i'm about to swap to a tach cluster so mabey when i do that it will get rid of the problem

NeCrOmAnCeR · 01-18-2005, 06:11 PM

I have had the same problem and upon closer inspection I also had a short on the harness leading to the taillights. The dash lights are on the same circuit as the running lights.

HAZBRZ1 · 01-21-2005, 12:00 AM

Once the wire to my glove box light got pinched and I blew fuses immediately until I chased wires and found it. If it just recently started a wire somewhere may have been pinched. Spent days trying to figure it out and felt pretty stupid after I figured it out. Good Luck

01-18-2005, 12:34 AM	#1
low 84 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,144	dash lights blowing fuses the dash lights in the '80 4x4 keeps blowing their fuse. i can put a new fuse in and they will come on when the headlight handle is pulled and the ignition key is in the off position, but when i start the truck the fuse will blow. any ideas whats causing the dash lights to short when i start the truck? __________________ '51 F100, backhalf with a narrowed 9 and coil overs, 18.5" mickeys, monte front clip, +400" sbc in the works '05 1500 Crew Cab RIP '84 swb 5/7 drop, solid cammed 408 w/ fully ported dart heads, th350 w/ 10 inch hughes, 12 bolt w/ 3.73 richmonds and a locker '80 swb 4x4 in progress: 7" lift, 350 th350/np205, d44 and 1.5" ORD tie rod, 14BFF w/discs , armored diff covers, 40" MTR's

01-18-2005, 05:05 AM	#2
Blue Beard Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Washington State Posts: 8,834	Thread on problem similiar to this earlier. Upon checking the trailer wiring found the PO had used tape on the connection and the tape slid off exposing the wiring to short. Just a thought. __________________ 1970 Chev CST 2003 Harley Fatboy 1975 Chevrolet Step Van 1956 Chev Bel Air 1977 Blazer 2WD For Sale $3000.00 1978 Blazer 2WD For Sale $7000.00 1978 Silverado 2005 Monte Carlo

01-18-2005, 01:26 PM	#3
low 84 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,144	was that casuing just the dash lights to short or all the lights? the dash lights are on a different fuse than head and tail lights and my headlights and taillights are working fine __________________ '51 F100, backhalf with a narrowed 9 and coil overs, 18.5" mickeys, monte front clip, +400" sbc in the works '05 1500 Crew Cab RIP '84 swb 5/7 drop, solid cammed 408 w/ fully ported dart heads, th350 w/ 10 inch hughes, 12 bolt w/ 3.73 richmonds and a locker '80 swb 4x4 in progress: 7" lift, 350 th350/np205, d44 and 1.5" ORD tie rod, 14BFF w/discs , armored diff covers, 40" MTR's

01-18-2005, 05:47 PM	#5
low 84 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,144	thanks man, i didn't think about the printed circuit, there might be a wire shorting to it, i'll have to look at it. i'm about to swap to a tach cluster so mabey when i do that it will get rid of the problem __________________ '51 F100, backhalf with a narrowed 9 and coil overs, 18.5" mickeys, monte front clip, +400" sbc in the works '05 1500 Crew Cab RIP '84 swb 5/7 drop, solid cammed 408 w/ fully ported dart heads, th350 w/ 10 inch hughes, 12 bolt w/ 3.73 richmonds and a locker '80 swb 4x4 in progress: 7" lift, 350 th350/np205, d44 and 1.5" ORD tie rod, 14BFF w/discs , armored diff covers, 40" MTR's

01-18-2005, 03:50 PM	#4
blink32 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: OTR Posts: 338	Just going off what your describing it might be in the power circuit that powers the warning/indicator lights that your check engine type lights since it doesn't happen when the key is in the OFF position but it does when its in the other positions. I do know that some(if not all) of the power for the printed circuit on the back of the gauges relies on power from your headlight switch. And at that point it ties in with grounds and power from other circuits so if there is malfunction in other circuits it could be an issue there. I would pull the cluster and just take a look at the printed circuit. If everything looks find and no burnt wires I think the next step is to break out an ohm/multi- meter and start testing wires. Use the factory wiring manual and unplug the plug from the gauge cluster and start there. If you still blow the fuse after unplugging the cluster you'll know its before the cluster. Took me a while to diagnose why I didn't have any dash lights at all and ended up being a bad headlight switch along with a bad printed circuit on the guage cluster.

01-18-2005, 06:11 PM	#6
NeCrOmAnCeR Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Hodgenville, Ky Posts: 735	I have had the same problem and upon closer inspection I also had a short on the harness leading to the taillights. The dash lights are on the same circuit as the running lights.

01-21-2005, 12:00 AM	#7
HAZBRZ1 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: KELLER, TX Posts: 66	Once the wire to my glove box light got pinched and I blew fuses immediately until I chased wires and found it. If it just recently started a wire somewhere may have been pinched. Spent days trying to figure it out and felt pretty stupid after I figured it out. Good Luck



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