Dash Lights not working

B

Lifetime Member

Woodland Park, CO - USA

Joined: 2/19/2007

Posts: 274

Vette(s): 1973 T-Top, Red, 4spd manual, L82

Any help -- I have a 73 coupe with dead dash lights. There is no power at the fuse block, none at the headlight switch and I am lost on where to go. Courtesy lights work.

Previous owner replaced the headlight switch, putting the vacuum lines on backwards, not sure if that is connected -- don't know why the switch was replaced. Some indications of high heat on the connector.

Thanks,

BT_Jett

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Dash Lights not working

Posted: 2/19/07 4:40pmMessage 2 of 10

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eddie20875

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Lanoka Harbor, NJ - USA

Joined: 12/21/2006

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Vette(s): 1975 metallic blue coupe with t-tops,L48, t/t steering, black leather interior. 1990 L98, white/red leather interior, auto,a/c

did you try checking both sides of the fuse. if rest of the fuse block is ok maybe a burnt leg on that slot of the block. the block would be the starting point. as far as the connector goes there maybe a wire broken in it . check continuity on the wire from the fuse block to the switch to make sure there is no break.

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Dash Lights not working

Posted: 2/19/07 6:51pmMessage 3 of 10

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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

No power at the headlight switch/fuse box on the light circuit would send me directly to a fuse link, either by the starter, or across the firewall area, but...most likely, at the horn relay on the driver side fenderwell.

Joel Adams
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Dash Lights not working

Posted: 2/22/07 12:16pmMessage 4 of 10

B

Lifetime Member

Woodland Park, CO - USA

Joined: 2/19/2007

Posts: 274

Vette(s): 1973 T-Top, Red, 4spd manual, L82

Looked at the fuse links, the wire continuity to the switch --- all are good, no broken leads. I suspect the switch itself, but don't have any info on the internal schematic for the switch. Testing of the switch indicates a terminal that never gets energized or connects to any other terminal on the switch as the switch is activated. One other possibility is a bad ground?

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Dash Lights not working

Posted: 2/22/07 6:47pmMessage 5 of 10

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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

The headlight switch is fed 12v on the red wire from the horn relay, which has a fuse link on it.
Do you have 12v on the two red wires at the light switch, or not?

The white wire at the switch is power for the courtesy lights.
The light blue wire is power to the dimer switch, and the ciggy lighter lamp.
Brown goes to the park lamps.
Orange is feed from the fuse-box, probably for the park lights.
The dark green wire goes to the fuse box, and then out to the cluster lights.

Does any of this help?

Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

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Dash Lights not working

Posted: 2/22/07 8:37pmMessage 6 of 10

B

Lifetime Member

Woodland Park, CO - USA

Joined: 2/19/2007

Posts: 274

Vette(s): 1973 T-Top, Red, 4spd manual, L82

That helps -- the white wire has no power on it, no matter what position the switch is in. The red wire has 12V present and does feed the light blue (headlights work in hi and lo). The brown does not have power, but when the switch is read for continuity, brown is in the circuit from the red. Orange has power, dark green is always dead. I am going to go back and retest the switch just to confirm all.

Thanks for the info

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Dash Lights not working

Posted: 2/22/07 8:59pmMessage 7 of 10

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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

Sounds like the switch is definitely the problem on this one.
Do the parking lights work front or back? Seems like if the brown wire is always dead, the park lites won't work, either.
Now, just a silly question...have you turned the knob on the light switch all the way counter-clockwise, and checked for power(white wire) then?

Joel Adams
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(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

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Dash Lights not working

Posted: 2/23/07 9:20amMessage 8 of 10

B

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Woodland Park, CO - USA

Joined: 2/19/2007

Posts: 274

Vette(s): 1973 T-Top, Red, 4spd manual, L82

Good question -- I neglected to verify the white connection, need to verify that one. The only exterior lights that come on are the headlights, nothing else. Also, the ciggy lighter lamp does not come on.

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Dash Lights not working

Posted: 2/25/07 9:00pmMessage 9 of 10

B

Lifetime Member

Woodland Park, CO - USA

Joined: 2/19/2007

Posts: 274

Vette(s): 1973 T-Top, Red, 4spd manual, L82

There are dashlights!!! It was my mistake -- I missed a blown fuse for the taillights -- so that was an easy fix. I still don't have the warning lights in the center console and the glove box plus no radio. But those are going to be worked now. Thanks for your help -- GREAT FORUM

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Dash Lights not working

Posted: 2/25/07 9:36pmMessage 10 of 10

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