Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4
Lost all my dash lights tonight where would i start ? #1016027
06/19/11 03:02 AM
06/19/11 03:02 AM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 36,840
South San Francisco, Californi...
MidPenMopar Offline OP
Looking for fun? Keep looking
MidPenMopar  Offline OP
Looking for fun? Keep looking

Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 36,840
South San Francisco, Californi...
Coming home tonight in my 1969 road runner i lost all my dash lights. The headlights and parking lights work fine and the dimmer will turn on the interior light if i click it all the way. Just all my dash light are dead. They just shut off by themselves with no warning. I had all the switches rebuilt a couple of years ago and all has been fine since i got the whole dash back.

So what do you think would be the most logical place to start looking to fix the problem??

Thanks
Stu

Re: Lost all my dash lights tonight where would i start ? [Re: MidPenMopar] #1016028
06/19/11 03:05 AM
06/19/11 03:05 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 29,648
Hamtramck, PA
Alaskan_TA Offline
Fluffy Balladeer
Alaskan_TA  Offline
Fluffy Balladeer

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 29,648
Hamtramck, PA

Were you using the high beam switch on the floor during the drive?

Re: Lost all my dash lights tonight where would i start ? [Re: Alaskan_TA] #1016029
06/19/11 03:16 AM
06/19/11 03:16 AM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,278
San Jose, California
D
DennisH Offline
Vacation
DennisH  Offline
Vacation
D

Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,278
San Jose, California
Play around with the thumbwheel dimmer switch on the dash. Go past the notch then up and down.

Re: Lost all my dash lights tonight where would i start ? [Re: DennisH ] #1016030
06/19/11 03:20 AM
06/19/11 03:20 AM
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8,087
Elk Grove, Calif.
B
bigblock340power Offline
master
bigblock340power  Offline
master
B

Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8,087
Elk Grove, Calif.
Any fuses to that run?

Re: Lost all my dash lights tonight where would i start ? [Re: Alaskan_TA] #1016031
06/19/11 03:22 AM
06/19/11 03:22 AM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 36,840
South San Francisco, Californi...
MidPenMopar Offline OP
Looking for fun? Keep looking
MidPenMopar  Offline OP
Looking for fun? Keep looking

Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 36,840
South San Francisco, Californi...
I tried the high beam a few times and no luck. I tried the dimmer wheel up and down and all around but no effect either....

Re: Lost all my dash lights tonight where would i start ? [Re: MidPenMopar] #1016032
06/19/11 03:28 AM
06/19/11 03:28 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 29,648
Hamtramck, PA
Alaskan_TA Offline
Fluffy Balladeer
Alaskan_TA  Offline
Fluffy Balladeer

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 29,648
Hamtramck, PA
Replace the high beam switch then. Cheap place to start.

Re: Lost all my dash lights tonight where would i start ? [Re: Alaskan_TA] #1016033
06/19/11 05:55 AM
06/19/11 05:55 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,599
San Jose,CA
migsBIG Offline
YouTube is my go-to news source
migsBIG  Offline
YouTube is my go-to news source

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,599
San Jose,CA
oh, sorry to hear that stu. Yes, start with the high beam. If it's a stock harness, look for melted plastic around it. Very common problem. Hope your back and going soon.

Re: Lost all my dash lights tonight where would i start ? [Re: migsBIG] #1016034
06/19/11 10:22 AM
06/19/11 10:22 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,907
U.S.S.A.
JohnRR Offline
I Win
JohnRR  Offline
I Win

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,907
U.S.S.A.
stu there is one position on the dimmer wheel just before you turn on the dome light that puts the dash lights on full bright , if you have that position then it's the dimmer switch , common problem 40yrs down the road .

Re: Lost all my dash lights tonight where would i start ? [Re: JohnRR] #1016035
06/19/11 11:29 AM
06/19/11 11:29 AM
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 6,005
Reno, Nevada
NV69B7RR Offline
master
NV69B7RR  Offline
master

Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 6,005
Reno, Nevada
..

Last edited by NV69B7RR; 06/19/11 03:01 PM.
Re: Lost all my dash lights tonight where would i start ? [Re: JohnRR] #1016036
06/19/11 11:58 AM
06/19/11 11:58 AM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 36,840
South San Francisco, Californi...
MidPenMopar Offline OP
Looking for fun? Keep looking
MidPenMopar  Offline OP
Looking for fun? Keep looking

Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 36,840
South San Francisco, Californi...
Quote:

stu there is one position on the dimmer wheel just before you turn on the dome light that puts the dash lights on full bright , if you have that position then it's the dimmer switch , common problem 40yrs down the road .




The dimmer can be rolled through all the positions and not get the dash lights to come on at all. It will at the final stop get the dome light to work as it should.

I had the same problem with my other road runner years ago and it was the dimmer but that was with a corrored swith and this is with a newly rebuilt switch so am not thinking it's in there.

I have never replaced the HIGH BEAM switch but i can not understand how that would affect the dash lights??? Or does it come into play for that problem??


Thanks for the help guys!

Re: Lost all my dash lights tonight where would i start ? [Re: MidPenMopar] #1016037
06/19/11 12:19 PM
06/19/11 12:19 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,481
Mesa, AZ
P
Pat_Whalen Offline
super gas
Pat_Whalen  Offline
super gas
P

Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,481
Mesa, AZ
Quote:

Quote:

stu there is one position on the dimmer wheel just before you turn on the dome light that puts the dash lights on full bright , if you have that position then it's the dimmer switch , common problem 40yrs down the road .




The dimmer can be rolled through all the positions and not get the dash lights to come on at all. It will at the final stop get the dome light to work as it should.

I had the same problem with my other road runner years ago and it was the dimmer but that was with a corrored swith and this is with a newly rebuilt switch so am not thinking it's in there.

I have never replaced the HIGH BEAM switch but i can not understand how that would affect the dash lights??? Or does it come into play for that problem??


Thanks for the help guys!




Highbeam switch is a two leg switch that all of the current for the headlights (normal and highbeams) flows through. You theoretically could remove the plug from it and jumper two of the three contacts and you should get some headlights if that is your only problem.

Last edited by Pat_Whalen; 06/19/11 12:20 PM.
Re: Lost all my dash lights tonight where would i start ? [Re: Pat_Whalen] #1016038
06/19/11 12:38 PM
06/19/11 12:38 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,474
N.E. OHIO, USA
A12 Offline
Too Many Posts
A12  Offline
Too Many Posts

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,474
N.E. OHIO, USA
Do you have halogen headlights by chance?

Re: Lost all my dash lights tonight where would i start ? [Re: A12] #1016039
06/19/11 12:45 PM
06/19/11 12:45 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,492
NJ
A
Annie Offline
top fuel
Annie  Offline
top fuel
A

Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,492
NJ
If roll switch wiggle doesnt do and floor dimmer looks ok .The dash lights are a 3 amp fuse just jump a alterernate power source to it in the fuse box .Try another fuse before they are hard to see when they go

Re: Lost all my dash lights tonight where would i start ? [Re: Alaskan_TA] #1016040
06/19/11 12:51 PM
06/19/11 12:51 PM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6,545
Downtown Roebuck Ont
Twostick Offline
Still wishing...
Twostick  Offline
Still wishing...

Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6,545
Downtown Roebuck Ont
Quote:

Replace the high beam switch then. Cheap place to start.




Slight hi-jack. Can someone explain to me what the dimmer switch has to do with the dash lights? My New Yorker has dash lights on lowbeam but they go out on highbeam. It's on its 3rd dimmer switch since I got the car and I just figured I had a weird ground issue (the car is cursed I'm convinced) but now that I see this post recommending changing the dimmer to solve a dashlight prob

My experience has always been that if the dash lights go out, you also lost the tail lights ie tail light fuse but the OP said his tails are OK so

Kevin

Last edited by Twostick; 06/19/11 12:56 PM.
Re: Lost all my dash lights tonight where would i start ? [Re: A12] #1016041
06/19/11 12:57 PM
06/19/11 12:57 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 36,840
South San Francisco, Californi...
MidPenMopar Offline OP
Looking for fun? Keep looking
MidPenMopar  Offline OP
Looking for fun? Keep looking

Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 36,840
South San Francisco, Californi...
Quote:

Do you have halogen headlights by chance?




Nope they are just the stock headlights. I can not see how the high beam switch would have any affect on the dash lights or does it???

Re: Lost all my dash lights tonight where would i start ? [Re: MidPenMopar] #1016042
06/19/11 01:36 PM
06/19/11 01:36 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,050
Niles , Ohio
T
therocks Offline
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
therocks  Offline
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
T

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,050
Niles , Ohio
The hi beam dosent have much to do with the dash light.It supplies the headlights and the hi indicator.Id say 99.99% it the reostat on the headligfht switch.Ive had a ton of hi beam switches go bad and replaced and never ever in over 40 years saw one that took out the dash lights.Pull the switch and check for power to the reostat and jumper it to the dash wire.I can just about guarantee they will work.Rocky


Chrysler Firepower
Re: Lost all my dash lights tonight where would i start ? [Re: therocks] #1016043
06/19/11 02:07 PM
06/19/11 02:07 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 36,840
South San Francisco, Californi...
MidPenMopar Offline OP
Looking for fun? Keep looking
MidPenMopar  Offline OP
Looking for fun? Keep looking

Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 36,840
South San Francisco, Californi...
Quote:

Pull the switch and check for power to the reostat and jumper it to the dash wire.I can just about guarantee they will work.Rocky





If it's a bad DIMMER switch are new ones still avaialble anymore??

Re: Lost all my dash lights tonight where would i start ? [Re: MidPenMopar] #1016044
06/19/11 02:16 PM
06/19/11 02:16 PM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 18,677
Fresno, CA
Jim_Lusk Offline
I Live Here
Jim_Lusk  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 18,677
Fresno, CA
New ones are not available, but there is a guy who rebuilds them. I've got a couple that I recently pulled out that will be for sale soon. One thing to keep in mind is that the dome light part of the dimmer switch is a completely separate circuit. There are several potential causes of this issue and they all are a pain to check out except the fuse.

Re: Lost all my dash lights tonight where would i start ? [Re: Jim_Lusk] #1016045
06/19/11 02:27 PM
06/19/11 02:27 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 36,840
South San Francisco, Californi...
MidPenMopar Offline OP
Looking for fun? Keep looking
MidPenMopar  Offline OP
Looking for fun? Keep looking

Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 36,840
South San Francisco, Californi...
Quote:

New ones are not available, but there is a guy who rebuilds them. I've got a couple that I recently pulled out that will be for sale soon. One thing to keep in mind is that the dome light part of the dimmer switch is a completely separate circuit. There are several potential causes of this issue and they all are a pain to check out except the fuse.




Yea i am dreading this as my back is messed up i can not get under the dash anymore to pull stuff out like i use to be able to do.

Re: Lost all my dash lights tonight where would i start ? [Re: MidPenMopar] #1016046
06/19/11 02:32 PM
06/19/11 02:32 PM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 18,677
Fresno, CA
Jim_Lusk Offline
I Live Here
Jim_Lusk  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 18,677
Fresno, CA
Quote:

Quote:

New ones are not available, but there is a guy who rebuilds them. I've got a couple that I recently pulled out that will be for sale soon. One thing to keep in mind is that the dome light part of the dimmer switch is a completely separate circuit. There are several potential causes of this issue and they all are a pain to check out except the fuse.




Yea i am dreading this as my back is messed up i can not get under the dash anymore to pull stuff out like i use to be able to do.




One thing that makes it easier is removing the driver seat. With it out you can lay down and not be contorted.....

Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4






Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1