Dash cluster lights

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Dash cluster lights

Postby Chevy033 » Wed Aug 28, 2019 2:48 pm

Hi there,
I am currently busy restoring a '78 starfire.
The car is now better then new,we renewed the engine,gearbox,differential.
Stripped the complete car and welded the rotten parts.

But now the challenge....

Everything works exept the lights from the gauges.
Checked the diagram and the pins that have to have 12v and ground are working,but no lights.
Other lights like headlight and taillight work normal.
It is,driving me complete crazy.
Anybody that can offer met the solution????
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Re: Dash cluster lights

Postby Monza Harry » Thu Aug 29, 2019 9:36 pm

Chevy 083 I would start looking at the headlight switch, I am familiar with the earlier ones, the dash light dimmers were a wire wound resistor with weak follower contact. Does the interior light come on after the click when rotated fully counter clockwise? I'll check back when I can. Zeke or Spencer (for hire) may happen by as well. Harry
I'm not a hoarder I'm a preservationist 78 Monza Spyder (~Soon(ish +/- I guess) To Be 2+2 with Spoilers)
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Re: Dash cluster lights

Postby Chevy033 » Sat Aug 31, 2019 9:51 am

Harry,
The headlightswitch works 100%.
Dimmer works fine also the interior light position
on the switch.
At first i suspected the switch also but i had another one and it gives the same problem....
Thnx by the way for your reply
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Re: Dash cluster lights

Postby Monza Harry » Mon Sep 02, 2019 5:31 pm

How is the Printed Circuit board around the light sockets, those are 41 tears old and they weren't exactly problem free when new? And where the dash harness plugs in is an even worse spot. Harry
I'm not a hoarder I'm a preservationist 78 Monza Spyder (~Soon(ish +/- I guess) To Be 2+2 with Spoilers)
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Re: Dash cluster lights

Postby Chevy033 » Sat Sep 14, 2019 7:17 pm

Harry.thnx for your input.
I managed to solve the problem.
It was indeed the printed circuit causing the problem.
It took me 2 evenings and a lot of swearing to fix it,but........it works.
The main plug was the biggest problem also some of the brass connections.
I soldered all the connections and bench tested the whole thing....
Finally.......
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Re: Dash cluster lights

Postby Monza Harry » Sun Sep 15, 2019 10:37 pm

Glad I was able to point you in theright direction
Monza Harry wrote:The Printed Circuit board around where the dash harness plugs in is an even worse spot.
Harry
I'm not a hoarder I'm a preservationist 78 Monza Spyder (~Soon(ish +/- I guess) To Be 2+2 with Spoilers)
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Re: Dash cluster lights

Postby Chevy033 » Sat Sep 28, 2019 11:02 am

Harry,
Is it normal for the h body that the little turnsignal indicators are burning together with the normal clusterlights?
They are,blinking left and right when i operate the turnsignal switch.
But when the switch is in neutral the little indicators both light....

Is this normal,for h body's?
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Re: Dash cluster lights

Postby Monza Harry » Sat Sep 28, 2019 3:34 pm

Pretty much all GM's of the era. This has to do with the front turn signal and the front marker light. I haven't thought about that in years but check out the bulbs, contacts, and all the grounds up there, as well. Sorry that's about all I recollect about that, I'll think about it snd see if anything else comes to mind. Harry
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Re: Dash cluster lights

Postby classic_cruiser » Sun Sep 29, 2019 8:46 am

Chevy033 wrote: turnsignal indicators are burning together with the normal clusterlights...

But when the switch is in neutral the little indicators both light....


I have never seen that on my 79 or my 80 sunbird- the only times the dash turn indicators light up are when the blinkers are on or the 4 way hazards are on.
Do the turn signal bulbs in the grille or markers also light at the same time?
Do the turn signal bulbs themselves light, or is it light leakage from the cluster bulbs behind the faceplate?
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Re: Dash cluster lights

Postby Chevy033 » Sun Sep 29, 2019 10:13 am

No it,is no leakage from the cluster lights.
I checked it yesterday.
Maybe i have to see if the ground wires,are all connected.
The bulbs are all new and for what i know,they are the right type of bulbs and they all are working
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