Dash lights

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Swinging 72

Swinging 72

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I have no dash lights.... the heater control light and shift indicator light comes on , but the dash is a no go. Any ideas?
 
Check gage cluster frame to dash board frame ground, it grounds where it screws into the sheetmetal dash frame. check lightbulbs. These are first 2 places i'd check. Wire going into printed circuit card for backlighting is orange. Unplug it, check for power at orange wire going into instrument cluster when headlight switch is on. Some people run a seperate additional dedicated ground wire, or ground strap from the cluster to the dash frame just to help prevent grounding issues
 
Should be. If its in the flat connector that may be where it needs to be. Not sure on dart dashes however only one orange color wire in the printed circuit. Its backlighting.
 
If turn indicators, hi beam indicator, and others do work we know the chassis ground is good. Only bulb in instrument panel that doesn't use the same inst' panel ground is the brake indicator. All illumination bulbs are on the same dimmer control and orange colored wires so we know most of that is good. Maybe the orange wire to that contact pin in circuit board is the fault, or maybe you have a few burned out bulbs, or maybe a mix of burned out bulbs and broken bulb sockets. There are several bulbs in inst' panel but only 3 or 4 serve illumination. The others operate very intermittently so they live longer. All bulbs are in the same type bulb socket that has little plastic tangs holding it connected against the board. They just break.
 
Ok, I know it takes me awhile, but I been working on other issues. All the bulbs and sockets are new, headlight switch is new. The right turn signal light in the cluster works if the car is running but just stays solid if not running with the key on but nothing else. The heater control and shift indicator light work and dim with the headlight switch normally. The pins on the back are all good, none broken or loose.
 
I’m going to put a ground wire from cluster to a ground point tomorrow, but was wondering... my new headlight switch has a ground spade on it, but my original didn’t, should I hook one up to it too? The dash lights didn’t work with the original switch either. Also the hi_beam indicator lights up too.
 
headlight switch on the dart normally grounds thru the mounting nut, however adding an extra grounding wire off the spade wont hurt.
 
Swinging 72 said:
I’m going to put a ground wire from cluster to a ground point tomorrow, but was wondering... my new headlight switch has a ground spade on it, but my original didn’t, should I hook one up to it too? The dash lights didn’t work with the original switch either. Also the hi_beam indicator lights up too.
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Indeed strange. Hi beam lamp uses same chassis ground path as illumination, and turn. Hi beam shouldn't come on until it gets the same power as the headlights on high beam.
Turn should work with switch on engine off but only if there's enough power supplied from battery and wiring. Its possible that your illumination actually does work just so dim you can't see it. We've seen this condition posted before. Are you working outside in daylight?
You could add a ground wire at the headlight switch. On the inst' housing too. Proves ground was or isn't the problem.
 
RedFish said:
Indeed strange. Hi beam lamp uses same chassis ground path as illumination, and turn. Hi beam shouldn't come on until it gets the same power as the headlights on high beam.
Turn should work with switch on engine off but only if there's enough power supplied from battery and wiring. Its possible that your illumination actually does work just so dim you can't see it. We've seen this condition posted before. Are you working outside in daylight?
You could add a ground wire at the headlight switch. On the inst' housing too. Proves ground was or isn't the problem.
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check the circuit board where the light sockets twist on they may not look dirty but can definately cause that issue. i had it happen to me.take some steel wool and clean it.i did mine and everything worked perfect.
 
my previous post here was meant for a different thread. sorry
 
I added a ground wire from the cluster and the headlight switch. I made sure all the socket tabs are contacting where they should be and everything is clean. Now both turn indicator lights work and the hi-beam indicator works so I don’t think it is a ground issue. I am working outside in daylight but I did check them at night and still have no backlighting.
 
Did you ever get it fixed? I've got exactly the same problem, with exactly the same symptoms.
Its almost like I started this thread myself!
 
No, still nothing as far as backlighting for the gauges and speedometer. I do have the turn signal indicator and high beam indicator lights but that’s it. I’ve checked fuses, power to the orange wire on the back of the cluster.... just about everything I can think of but still nothing. I’ve given up on it for the time being and just drive it like it is. Wish I could be more help to you.
 
Swinging 72 said:
No, still nothing as far as backlighting for the gauges and speedometer. I do have the turn signal indicator and high beam indicator lights but that’s it. I’ve checked fuses, power to the orange wire on the back of the cluster.... just about everything I can think of but still nothing. I’ve given up on it for the time being and just drive it like it is. Wish I could be more help to you.
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You have EXACTLY the same thing going on that I have. And I'm doing the same thing. Thanks for responding, if I figure it out, I'll let you know.
 
Swinging 72 said:
Please do.... if you figure it out. I’m frustrated beyond belief with it.
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I hear ya. I'll get it, and I'll get back with you.
I'm an industrial electrician, but DC isn't my specialty, but I've got the tools and the ability to troubleshoot it. I was just being lazy by asking my question in the first place.
 
Lol, I’m no expert in electric but I can usually troubleshoot, but this issue just kicked my ***. I truly hope you do find it
 
On the dash circuit board the lamps pick up grounds at three or four different places as I recall. The grounds are made by screws which hold the circuit board to the pot metal dashboard back frame.

Because of this some lamps can have a ground and others may not.

The screws can get loose or the copper paths under them can corrode. I put star washers under all mine so they would bite into the circuit board and make better contact.

To recap, just because you have a good ground to the dash frame does not mean you have a good ground to the bulbs.
 
I'm going to start with the ground issue.
Headlight switch is definitely good, voltage verified. Sockets and lamps replaced, no corrosion on circuit boards.
I'll find out soon enough.
 
Did you guys check the fuse for the dash lights? It is a small amperage fuse on the end of the fuse block, as I recall.
 
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