G22-Joe

My car info is to the left.

I just got this bird, and did not have any type of instrument lights, other than the light above the AC controls, under the upper part of the dash, and 3 idiots lights; Brake, Check Engine, Seat Belt, no other idiot lights even with the key on/engine off as that should light all idiot lights for a moment. Of course that may be the only idiot lights on my year car.

I checked the fuse, and it was fine, the only real thing I noticed was that it was the original fuse, and was stuck into its socket due to the tarnish build up over time. I installed a new fuse, since I have a large fuse kit around. I figured it was the remote dimmer transistor, as I have searched the forums before posting and that seamed the most likely culprit.

That night, after I installed the new fuse, I got the light for the armrest/shift plate light to come on, and it would dim with the dimmer. Then after driving about 40 minutes, I got the battery gauge light, then the gas gauge light a few minutes later. The next night I got what look like 2 lights on the tach, and right before I turned off the lights, the oil pressure gauge light came on.

That lasted for almost 4 days straight, and they would all dim with ease. The speedo lights never came on, but just about every other light that I am aware of seemed to be on. Well last night I started getting a light show. One gauge light would go out, the come back on, a few minutes later another one would do the same. It did that for my whole hour and a half long drive.

So I have two questions in regards to this.

Has anyone else had this light show effect with instrument lights?

Has anyone cleaned the contacts on the fuse panel, with out widening out the holders for the fuses?


I think the instrument lights may be caused by loose bulbs, or very tarnished contacts. From what I have been able to view from other posts, and pictures is that I should be able to clean those contacts easily.

My other concern is my fuse holder contacts. I tried to find a very nice and thin emery board, but all the ones I came across were way too thick. I was going to use a gap gauge with a small strip of emery on it, yet that was also too thick. And yes I disconnected the battery first! I know of a few spary contact cleaners, yet I am sure the tarnish build-up is very thick, and it would only slightly help in the cleaning process. Shoot it took me quite a bit of pressure to try and clean the original fuse leads off, so I could test how bad the build up is.


Any and all information is greatly appreciated.

JamesY

I thought I had a similar issue, when I went digging behind my guage panel I figured out I was missing a bulb *scratches head* so obveously someone was in there before me.

Have you taken off that panel and checked those bulbs and their connections and such?

Another thing you could try... Take the fuse out, stick your test light in one side, turn it like your about to start it, if you got test light then you know you got power to it, if the test light stays steady then its the connection with the fuse. If the test light does the same thing as the guage lights were doing, then you got something not fuse panel related would be my guess.

May not be entirly accurate but that is what I would try...