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78' dash lights

Forum: C3 Electrical, Body and Interior

19 Messages
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78' dash lights

Posted: 8/17/09 3:37pmMessage 1 of 19
F
Foley
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Joined: 9/8/2002
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Vette(s): 1978 Coupe L48
I have a 78 L48 with no dash lights.  They just kind of went out one evening...all of them.  At least I'm assuming that there is more than one light illuminating the gauges.  It doesn't seem to be a fuse issue.  Any suggestions? 
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78' dash lights

Posted: 8/17/09 4:18pmMessage 2 of 19
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Iron82
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Vette(s): 1982 Collector Edition #3413

Not a mechanic but have you checked the light bulbs or the curcuit board.  Others will help with this.  Smile

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78' dash lights

Posted: 8/17/09 6:20pmMessage 3 of 19
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lukesvette
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HOWELL, NJ - USA
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Vette(s): 1979, Targa Blue (72 Color), Pace Car rear spoiler, L88 hood, Dark blue factory interior, 525HP 406, HD 700R4, 370 gears,Steeroids, composite rear spring, TT IIs wrapped in T/A Radials.
Sounds like either a bad ground or a headlight switch. Are the headlights, tail lights, marker lights working?

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78' dash lights

Posted: 8/17/09 6:24pmMessage 4 of 19
F
Foley
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Vette(s): 1978 Coupe L48

All lights are working except for the dash lights.  Not sure what to make of it. 

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78' dash lights

Posted: 8/18/09 5:12amMessage 5 of 19
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Adams' Apple
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Duncanville, TX - USA
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Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
One simple thing to check first...is the light switch turned all the way one direction? You may have accidentally "dimmed" the dash lights...wouldn't be the first time that's happened!
If that isn't the problem, then you may have lost the ground to the cluster, or the headlight switch may have taken a doo-doo(tech term). Do the gauge lights on the center console work?

Joel Adams
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78' dash lights

Posted: 8/18/09 5:18amMessage 6 of 19
K
KeBo
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Vette(s): 1981 - 59 Beige over Cinnebar leather. Edlebrock top end, 2200 stall w/shift kit, 3:55s, Mufflex maniback exhaust, nice stereo, 16 in AREs w/BFGs
I had the same prob. My headlight switch went "crispy" as my mechanic called it.  I bought the catalog item part - it does not work, it does not fit! There are used or NOS units around and they are no more expensive then the crappy ones from China.  It was a 10 minute fix..
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78' dash lights

Posted: 8/18/09 3:02pmMessage 7 of 19
F
Foley
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Vette(s): 1978 Coupe L48

It's not the dimmer switch.  I checked that first thing.  None of the instrument lights work.  maybe it is a ground issue. 

Kebo, did your headlights still work when you had your problem?  Because my headlights work just fine.  The dome light works just fine when I turn them on with the headlight knob. 
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78' dash lights

Posted: 8/18/09 8:02pmMessage 8 of 19
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Adams' Apple
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Duncanville, TX - USA
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Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
[QUOTE=Foley] It doesn't seem to be a fuse issue....[/QUOTE]

Does this mean you have checked the fuses(both sides) with a voltmeter/test light? If so, and the fuses all tested good, then I'd be more inclined to think the headlight switch has taken a poopie...

Joel Adams
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78' dash lights

Posted: 8/19/09 5:27amMessage 9 of 19
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KeBo
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Kendall Park, NJ - USA
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Vette(s): 1981 - 59 Beige over Cinnebar leather. Edlebrock top end, 2200 stall w/shift kit, 3:55s, Mufflex maniback exhaust, nice stereo, 16 in AREs w/BFGs
Foley - Thats what I thought, It wasnt the dimmer switch..  I lost all lights on the dash. I couldnt understand why the head lamp switch needed to be changed. Low and behold a 30 sec diagnosis by my wrench out did 6 hours of diagnotics by me. As he said, We've seen a ton of these..  Unless the 78 is scematically diff then an 81, the fuse that holds the dash lights, holds other stuff too.   
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78' dash lights

Posted: 8/19/09 12:43pmMessage 10 of 19
F
Foley
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Vette(s): 1978 Coupe L48
I haven't checked with a voltmeter.  I suppose I should do that, eh? 
 
Is it a big pain is the butt to put a headlight switch in? 
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