New from n.c. , with a question. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

t&tkennels · 07-05-2008, 08:51 PM

Hi, just joined & already have question. Im in the process of building a mild street rod with a '71 c10 long bed.Im currently working on the inside, & just got done with the paint & dash. Before removing the gauge cluster the lights on the gas gauge didnt work but the speedo side did , while restoring the gauge cluster i replaced all the bulbs & hooked up everything i assume correct & now i only have signal light indicator lights & thats it. Could it be the circuit board gone bad. Im on a very tight budget & trying to do all my own work.Thanks!

kyull67 · 07-05-2008, 09:25 PM

Welcome! It could be the cicuit board as those can and do go bad. I just recently changed my gauges to white with blue leds and noticed that the bulb sockets only work one way. Try taking them out and rotating them 180 degrees. If that doesn't work check the bulbs themselves(size 194's) and there is also a fuse labeled cluster feed. Try those first and if none of those things work let us no and we'll try to help you out.

thirdstreettito · 07-05-2008, 10:41 PM

Welcome from Fuquay! Pics of the truck?

t&tkennels · 07-06-2008, 05:26 PM

Hi , just checked everything i could think of . Just wondering could it be the headlight switch, although the head lights work fine?. Thanks , i can use all the help i can get!

**truckdude239** · 07-06-2008, 07:04 PM

welcome from winston salem,nc

**clay68c10** · 07-06-2008, 08:27 PM

It could be the circuit or it could be the headlight switch. If it's the printed circuit, you'll still have light in your heater control. If you don't have light in the heater control or the cluster, then it could be the light switch.

**Boog** · 07-06-2008, 09:43 PM

How about the ground wire?

RaceAGMC · 07-07-2008, 05:07 PM

Welome from Charlotte, i'm not much on electrical, hope someone can get u goin.

t&tkennels · 07-07-2008, 09:32 PM

:Replaced the light switch , still nothing. i also noticed my heater control light & interier light are not working, but they use to. Ibought a test light & checked the fuse panel , & the dash cluster fuse outlet is getting no power. How could this happen when all i did was remove the the gauge cluster.?

t&tkennels · 07-14-2008, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t&tkennels

:Replaced the light switch , still nothing. i also noticed my heater control light & interier light are not working, but they use to. Ibought a test light & checked the fuse panel , & the dash cluster fuse outlet is getting no power. How could this happen when all i did was remove the the gauge cluster.?

ok got power to my fuse box, interior light working , heater control light working, & power to the circuit board for the gauges ,still no gauge lights, ive rotated the bulbs , still nothing . Maybe the bulbs i have are not correct but they look the same . Please help!

Longhorn Man · 07-14-2008, 10:32 PM

If the bulbs plugged into the sockets, they are the right ones, or close enough.
Rotating them doesn't matter unless they are LEDs, bulbs work in either direction.
You say you are getting power to the inst panel, did you test the circuit board?
Quick troubleshooting question, does the fuel guage go stupid when you try turning the lights on?

t&tkennels · 07-15-2008, 12:00 AM

hi , no the fuel gauge isnt acting funny. I turn on the lights and checked the circuit board by removing one light at a time & checked each one with a test light & had power on them all.How can they light the test light & not the bulbs ? Im thinking of getting a new circuit board , but hate to waste the money & have the same problem. I just cant think of anything else to check. I will grateful for any help !! Its driving me nuts! All i have left is this & the seat & the inside will be done!!!Thanks for any & all help.

dan42 · 07-15-2008, 12:11 AM

I have the same problem and have had for a while, because I have been too lazy to troubleshoot it, but I replaced: the bulbs, the circuit board, and the light switch. Mine is a '67, but they are the same for the most part. I have also put grounds in the traditional places with no luck so far, but I plan to ground the instrument panel to something that I know is grounded. After paint, quite often you can lose a ground. If that doesn't work, I'll get someone a little smarter than me to at least diagnose it.

Luvlegs · 07-15-2008, 10:01 AM

If there is power on both parts of the printed circuit (lights your test light) - check the bulb holder base - the spots where they contact the printed circuit could have 30+ years of oxidation and need cleaning - simple fix too!

**michael bustamante** · 07-15-2008, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luvlegs

If there is power on both part of the printed circuit (lights your test light) - check the bulb holder base - the spots where they contact the printed circuit could have 30+ years of oxidation and need cleaning - simple fix too!

this is what fixed my problem. I had poor ground contact in the socket and had to cean them with contact cleaner and a stiff toothbrush

Longhorn Man · 07-15-2008, 04:00 PM

seems odd to have lost contacts on 4 points across the board, but not the directionals. It IS possible, and a pencil eraser will clean the points.
Have you inspected the ground side of the curcuit? The panel bolts to the back of the insterment panel and provides the lights with a ground.
The fact that the fuel guage doesn't get stupid says the panel its self is grounded.

**steelhorse** · 07-15-2008, 04:17 PM

Welcome from Wilton NC.

Woobie · 07-15-2008, 04:44 PM

Sorry, can't help with the problem, but

from Greenville.

Paul

t&tkennels · 07-15-2008, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelhorse

Welcome from Wilton NC.

Wow youre right up the the road ! I went to wilton school. Cool!

t&tkennels · 07-15-2008, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

seems odd to have lost contacts on 4 points across the board, but not the directionals. It IS possible, and a pencil eraser will clean the points.
Have you inspected the ground side of the curcuit? The panel bolts to the back of the insterment panel and provides the lights with a ground.
The fact that the fuel guage doesn't get stupid says the panel its self is grounded.

Ive got the dummy light dash , signals light up fine , & the 2 dummy lights come on when i turn on the switch. just cleaned the sockets & still nothing!

**steelhorse** · 07-15-2008, 08:55 PM

Have you tried hitting it with a really big hammer

t&tkennels · 07-15-2008, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelhorse

Have you tried hitting it with a really big hammer

Im gonna give it another try tommorrow , if i cant get em going the hammer may be my next option.

**michael bustamante** · 07-16-2008, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t&tkennels

Im gonna give it another try tommorrow , if i cant get em going the hammer may be my next option.

and duct tape. You can fix ANYTHING with a hammer and duct tape

babyJay · 07-16-2008, 11:20 AM

The metal contacts inside the bulb base can become separated (stretched) and fail to contact the bulb leads correctly. Try using a small flat screwdriver and bending the parts that "squeeze" the bulb, when inserted, closer together.

t&tkennels · 07-16-2008, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babyJay

The metal contacts inside the bulb base can become separated (stretched) and fail to contact the bulb leads correctly. Try using a small flat screwdriver and bending the parts that "squeeze" the bulb, when inserted, closer together.

ok ,just tried that ,still nothing. i have access to a gauge panel out of a 70' it has gauges not the dummy lights i currently have . Is this a pretty easy swap?.

07-05-2008, 08:51 PM	#1
t&tkennels Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: creedmoor n.c. Posts: 188	New from n.c. , with a question. Hi, just joined & already have question. Im in the process of building a mild street rod with a '71 c10 long bed.Im currently working on the inside, & just got done with the paint & dash. Before removing the gauge cluster the lights on the gas gauge didnt work but the speedo side did , while restoring the gauge cluster i replaced all the bulbs & hooked up everything i assume correct & now i only have signal light indicator lights & thats it. Could it be the circuit board gone bad. Im on a very tight budget & trying to do all my own work.Thanks!

07-05-2008, 09:25 PM	#2
kyull67 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Springfield/Kansas City Posts: 1,842	Re: New from n.c. , with a question. Welcome! It could be the cicuit board as those can and do go bad. I just recently changed my gauges to white with blue leds and noticed that the bulb sockets only work one way. Try taking them out and rotating them 180 degrees. If that doesn't work check the bulbs themselves(size 194's) and there is also a fuse labeled cluster feed. Try those first and if none of those things work let us no and we'll try to help you out. __________________ The first '67 The current '67 '63 Biscayne

07-05-2008, 10:41 PM	#3
thirdstreettito Resident of Here Join Date: May 2008 Location: Wesley Chapel, FL, USA Posts: 7,716	Re: New from n.c. , with a question. Welcome from Fuquay! Pics of the truck? __________________ ~Bradley~ 2004 Black GTO LS2/T56 too much to list Miss having a truck

07-06-2008, 05:26 PM	#4
t&tkennels Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: creedmoor n.c. Posts: 188	Re: New from n.c. , with a question. Hi , just checked everything i could think of . Just wondering could it be the headlight switch, although the head lights work fine?. Thanks , i can use all the help i can get!

07-06-2008, 07:04 PM	#5
truckdude239 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Lewisville, Nc Posts: 10,238	Re: New from n.c. , with a question. welcome from winston salem,nc __________________ David fuller Ase Certified Mechanic Click here to help support our board!! 1971 Chevy c-10 under going a 4.8l LSx swap Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=421305 2007 Honda Accord my daily 145kmiles 2002 Honda Accord 4 door With 330k(sisters car) 2005 toyota Avalon 228k( brothers car) 2002 Sububran 5.3 245k 2000 Tahoe 5.3l 378 General manager for Marco's Carwash & lube

07-06-2008, 08:27 PM	#6
clay68c10 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Centennial, CO Posts: 2,991	Re: New from n.c. , with a question. It could be the circuit or it could be the headlight switch. If it's the printed circuit, you'll still have light in your heater control. If you don't have light in the heater control or the cluster, then it could be the light switch. __________________ ClusterTruck: 68 C10 Bought in 89, wrecked in 03. Slow low $ rebuild started '17. 6.0 & TKO http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=788602 93 K1500 Short Step, 350, NV4500, EBL flash ECU. Vortec heads & roller cam someday... 05 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. 3” lift & 6-speed 02 E320 the insurance total “free car” 13 Tahoe LTZ Last edited by clay68c10; 07-06-2008 at 08:28 PM.

07-06-2008, 09:43 PM	#7
Boog laying low Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Searcy, Ark. USA Posts: 13,535	Re: New from n.c. , with a question. How about the ground wire? __________________ 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

07-07-2008, 05:07 PM	#8
RaceAGMC Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 350	Re: New from n.c. , with a question. Welome from Charlotte, i'm not much on electrical, hope someone can get u goin. __________________ 70 CST, 6.0/ 4L80E in the works. Custom harness by 68 Short Step Last edited by RaceAGMC; 07-07-2008 at 05:08 PM.

07-07-2008, 09:32 PM	#9
t&tkennels Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: creedmoor n.c. Posts: 188	Re: New from n.c. , with a question. :Replaced the light switch , still nothing. i also noticed my heater control light & interier light are not working, but they use to. Ibought a test light & checked the fuse panel , & the dash cluster fuse outlet is getting no power. How could this happen when all i did was remove the the gauge cluster.? Last edited by t&tkennels; 07-07-2008 at 09:33 PM. Reason: correction

07-14-2008, 10:32 PM	#11
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: New from n.c. , with a question. If the bulbs plugged into the sockets, they are the right ones, or close enough. Rotating them doesn't matter unless they are LEDs, bulbs work in either direction. You say you are getting power to the inst panel, did you test the circuit board? Quick troubleshooting question, does the fuel guage go stupid when you try turning the lights on?

07-15-2008, 12:00 AM	#12
t&tkennels Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: creedmoor n.c. Posts: 188	Re: New from n.c. , with a question. hi , no the fuel gauge isnt acting funny. I turn on the lights and checked the circuit board by removing one light at a time & checked each one with a test light & had power on them all.How can they light the test light & not the bulbs ? Im thinking of getting a new circuit board , but hate to waste the money & have the same problem. I just cant think of anything else to check. I will grateful for any help !! Its driving me nuts! All i have left is this & the seat & the inside will be done!!!Thanks for any & all help.

07-15-2008, 12:11 AM	#13
dan42 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cali Central Coast Posts: 5,191	Re: New from n.c. , with a question. I have the same problem and have had for a while, because I have been too lazy to troubleshoot it, but I replaced: the bulbs, the circuit board, and the light switch. Mine is a '67, but they are the same for the most part. I have also put grounds in the traditional places with no luck so far, but I plan to ground the instrument panel to something that I know is grounded. After paint, quite often you can lose a ground. If that doesn't work, I'll get someone a little smarter than me to at least diagnose it. __________________ '67 SWB Fleetside ZZ4/350/Tremec 5-speed/4link/Scott's IFS - and fun as heck! SOLD Click here to support the board Philippians 4: 6-7

07-15-2008, 10:01 AM	#14
Luvlegs Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Smith Mountain Lake Virginia Posts: 1,537	Re: New from n.c. , with a question. If there is power on both parts of the printed circuit (lights your test light) - check the bulb holder base - the spots where they contact the printed circuit could have 30+ years of oxidation and need cleaning - simple fix too! __________________ "A cat will almost always blink when hit between the eyes with a ball peen hammer" (you don't always have to state the obvious) Wear your PPE! You can eat with false teeth but you can't see with a false eye. 1959 Studebaker Silverhawk 350/400 1972 C10 L6 3OTT 2005 F350 - Built - whew! Last edited by Luvlegs; 07-15-2008 at 10:45 AM.

07-15-2008, 04:00 PM	#16
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: New from n.c. , with a question. seems odd to have lost contacts on 4 points across the board, but not the directionals. It IS possible, and a pencil eraser will clean the points. Have you inspected the ground side of the curcuit? The panel bolts to the back of the insterment panel and provides the lights with a ground. The fact that the fuel guage doesn't get stupid says the panel its self is grounded.

07-15-2008, 04:17 PM	#17
steelhorse Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Franklinton NC Posts: 1,309	Re: New from n.c. , with a question. Welcome from Wilton NC.



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07-15-2008, 04:44 PM	#18
Woobie Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 116	Re: New from n.c. , with a question. Sorry, can't help with the problem, but from Greenville. Paul __________________ 1972 c10 2000 FLHTC 126+k miles, so far 1967 BMW r60 2007 Xterra (Wife's ride) R.I.P. "ESLL"

07-15-2008, 08:55 PM	#21
steelhorse Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Franklinton NC Posts: 1,309	Re: New from n.c. , with a question. Have you tried hitting it with a really big hammer

07-16-2008, 11:20 AM	#24
babyJay Arrived on a Pale Horse Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SnagTown Indiana Posts: 2,524	Re: New from n.c. , with a question. The metal contacts inside the bulb base can become separated (stretched) and fail to contact the bulb leads correctly. Try using a small flat screwdriver and bending the parts that "squeeze" the bulb, when inserted, closer together. __________________ Jason 87 V30 350TBI/400 White w/Boss V-plow 89 R3500 CC SRW

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