no dash lights
04-21-2009, 07:57 AM
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no dash lights
my dash lights went out (all of them) and i cant figure out what the deal is. fuses are good, and everything else works fine. any idea's? 
04-21-2009, 08:05 AM
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04-21-2009, 12:38 PM
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Location: Cincinnati, Ohio - Amelia is the exact place. There is no one else on this site from where I am. Seems like everyone is from Cali or Washington. I guess I need to move.
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04-21-2009, 01:21 PM
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04-21-2009, 07:14 PM
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Location: Cincinnati, Ohio - Amelia is the exact place. There is no one else on this site from where I am. Seems like everyone is from Cali or Washington. I guess I need to move.
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If it is the case, you could tear that ish down in less than 30. It is unlikely but if all else has failed, and you have limited some electrical malfuction to the gauge cluster what else can you do
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04-21-2009, 07:38 PM
#8
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hmmm... all of the lights... so all of the indicator lights AND the back-lights that come on with your head lights? or just one of those two group or lights?
you're dimmer function works by adjusting the resistance of the GROUND to the lights. It's possible the dimmer switch itself is bad, or has a bad ground itself; does the light for you climate controls work? if not, I would look at that dimmer switch, or the wiring to it, as the cuplrit
if it's the indicator lights, I'd pull the cluster out and make sure that for whatever reason one of the plugs didn't vibrate out or something. the input to those lights run off all sorts of circuts that all come to gether in the wiring harness there, so it would have to be a common ground, or a common 12v + coming into the cluster there that has lost connection
you're dimmer function works by adjusting the resistance of the GROUND to the lights. It's possible the dimmer switch itself is bad, or has a bad ground itself; does the light for you climate controls work? if not, I would look at that dimmer switch, or the wiring to it, as the cuplrit
if it's the indicator lights, I'd pull the cluster out and make sure that for whatever reason one of the plugs didn't vibrate out or something. the input to those lights run off all sorts of circuts that all come to gether in the wiring harness there, so it would have to be a common ground, or a common 12v + coming into the cluster there that has lost connection
Last edited by iamsuperbleeder; 04-21-2009 at 07:39 PM.
04-21-2009, 07:58 PM
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the dimmer switch itself being bad is a possibility, as was stated before, pull the switch and bypass it really quick before you tear apart the dash, i think it would be worth a shot. When this happened to me i tore the dash apart, didn't find any problems, then checked the dimmer and realized that was the culprit.
04-21-2009, 08:21 PM
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hmmm... all of the lights... so all of the indicator lights AND the back-lights that come on with your head lights? or just one of those two group or lights?
you're dimmer function works by adjusting the resistance of the GROUND to the lights. It's possible the dimmer switch itself is bad, or has a bad ground itself; does the light for you climate controls work? if not, I would look at that dimmer switch, or the wiring to it, as the cuplrit
you're dimmer function works by adjusting the resistance of the GROUND to the lights. It's possible the dimmer switch itself is bad, or has a bad ground itself; does the light for you climate controls work? if not, I would look at that dimmer switch, or the wiring to it, as the cuplrit
04-21-2009, 08:28 PM
#12
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yeah, definately sounds like the dimmer circut to me, so long as all the other lights outside the vehicle as working (parking lights and head-lights). if the outside lights are not working either, and the fuses are good, the only other logical thing would be the switch assymbely on the column
let us know what you find; good luck!
let us know what you find; good luck!
Last edited by iamsuperbleeder; 04-21-2009 at 08:31 PM.
04-21-2009, 08:41 PM
#14
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yeah I honestly can't remember how many wires are running into the switch itself, but I believe it's only 2. in which case it's easy to bypass it. just unplug it, and make a jumper wire (using a 3"-4" length of wire and crimp a male terminal on each end) to connect the two ends together so full power will go through it. then you'll have the lights untill you get around to replacing the switch. that's also a good way to test to see if it's the switch
Last edited by iamsuperbleeder; 04-21-2009 at 08:42 PM.
04-21-2009, 08:51 PM
#16
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yeah, it's really hard to tell from any pictures that I personally have, but by looking at this one, it CAN'T be more than 2 wires 
should be pretty much the same on your 87
should be pretty much the same on your 87
Last edited by iamsuperbleeder; 04-21-2009 at 08:52 PM.
04-21-2009, 09:01 PM
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04-22-2009, 08:59 AM
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well it was indeed the dimmer, thanks guys your the best. the fix was really easy though, b/c all i had to do was plug it back in. lol! seriously i dont know how that thing came undone. now im surrounded by a sea of pretty green lights
04-22-2009, 03:52 PM
#20
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don't you just love it when it's something simple and stupid like that
