no dashlights

Topic: no dashlights (Read 2545 times) previous topic - next topic

no dashlights

May 23, 2005, 10:09:21 AM

hey guys HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!
i read the troubleshooting in here for the no dashlight prob..installed the stock stero and it works fine. turned the lights on the next morning and poof no dashlights. everything woks fine until i turn on the lights. if i use a flash light i can see how fast i am going.seems all fuses and bulbs are good and if they were not i replaced them nothing. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i used the original harness and just had to splice into each wire color for color.

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: no dashlights

Reply #1 – May 23, 2005, 10:58:56 AM

Try wiggling the dimmer next to the headlight switch, it may be worn out and not making good contact

Re: no dashlights

Reply #2 – May 23, 2005, 11:29:55 AM

Terry, after reading your e-mails and the comments here...are you positive that the bulbs aren't simply burned out in the speedo? Do you lose ALL the dash lights, or just the lights in the speedo, when you turn on the switch?

Re: no dashlights

Reply #3 – May 23, 2005, 12:34:32 PM

i lose all dashlights.everything works fine til i turn on the lights. replaced the dimmer switch,relay that eric told me about. checked all bulbs(replaced),as well as fuses.

Re: no dashlights

Reply #4 – May 23, 2005, 12:39:56 PM

Hmmm...well, that leaves either the headlight switch (as Carm mentioned), the ignition switch, or the wiring for the radio isn't correct. That's all I can think of.

Re: no dashlights

Reply #5 – May 23, 2005, 01:09:20 PM

am i correct to assume the car had no radio up until this time?
my point is ,, if you got this car with no radio in the hole,, makes me wonder why it was removed in the first place.

###something else,,, what are you doing with blow fuses?

most of us consider this to be a sign of a problem. You said your replaced all the fuses and the "blown" ones. Maybe the ones that were blown point to a problem circuit.

###can you remember which fuse number these blown fuses were?

Re: no dashlights

Reply #6 – May 23, 2005, 02:11:09 PM

10amp is all i can remember.car had the stock stereo when i got it.worked fine.put a cd player in it. worked fine. lazer for cd player ped out.reinstalled stock deck.worked fine.still works fine but took it out to see if i could see those wires that were in the troubleshooting thingy in coolcats.

Re: no dashlights

Reply #7 – May 23, 2005, 10:33:53 PM

Your headlight switch is bad. The potentiometer (sp) is blown out.

I have a picture in my cardomain. Its a big spring that has a arm that is moved by the little wheel on the headlight switch.

Re: no dashlights

Reply #8 – May 24, 2005, 06:53:49 AM

i replaced the switch but i will look into it again. thanks for the link it will definatly come in handy. i will let you know it it worked or not.

Re: no dashlights

Reply #9 – May 24, 2005, 07:34:15 AM

what are the odds of having the harness pinched off on a metal braket to gournd? in the rear of the radio, can you reach around and feel the harness?

another thing,, check out the cig lighter hot wire and your ashtray hot wire. Ill bet the problem is in these areas.

try this,,
remove the radio and all wiring.
check and replace all fuses (check all of them)
make a temp ground for the radio chassis
slide the radio in its hole part way and connect the harness

see if the problem still happens without the radio fully seated.

Re: no dashlights

Reply #10 – May 24, 2005, 04:59:13 PM

i will give that a shot to J.thanks alot for all your help,everyone. hope and pray the dash lights will work.

Re: no dashlights

Reply #11 – June 05, 2005, 08:39:51 AM

sorry i have not gotten back to you guys on this. my boss was killed at work a couple days after all the advice i got from all of you.so the car was not very high on the list.i did everything you all suggested same thing no lights.i re checked everything again,bulbs,relays,headlight switch,wiring,both stero and harness.guess what? when i re checked the fuses one 10amp(yes a fuse) was popped. very very hard to see so i don't feel totally stupid(yes i do).replaced that got dashlights for 30 seconds and then out again.ok this was g me off.BAD.anyway i found that the ground was loose and was grounding out,(feeling stupid again) fixed that,replaced fuse and BINGO dashlights. thanx a million guys.really i am not that stupid and i know what to look for but somehow missed the little problem. i guess i was looking for the big problem and just not seeing it. thank you all again.

Re: no dashlights

Reply #12 – June 09, 2005, 04:50:25 PM

sorry bout your boss (how did that happen if you dont mind)

congrats you are now smarter!