Shookum2004

The backlights of my gauge cluster no longer work. The gauges themselves still work, but the lights do not.

So at night, i cannot see the gauges as clearly as i may like...

I checked all the fuses but all of them are good... i may have touched two wires together that went to the map light, but not sure...

If i burned up a wire somewhere how can i find it?

82 Iron Duke

iTrader: (21)

Most likely your headlight dimmer switch has gone bad.

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

And some members are unaware that the headlight **** controls the bright/dim function of the cluster.

JamesC

Shookum2004

Well i can still turn the dome light on with the dimmer switch...

82 Iron Duke

iTrader: (21)

That doesn't mean anything, all it means is that you can turn on the dome light with the dimmer switch. The switch will still operate as an on and of switch but it goes bad, try replacing the simple part and the progress from there.

Shookum2004

Replaced the headlight switch and still no gauge lights...

HELP!!!

enswrob

sounds like you have to pull the cluster and find out...

Shookum2004

Where would i even begin to look?

I will try and use my other and see if the lights work on that one... but i really think i may have broken something possibly touching the map light wires together...when i had them extended to a gauge...

::sigh::

CRAMOS78

had the same problem, i did replace the headlight switch, i replaced the cluster and nothing,
its been over 8 yrs since i got the car and i have never been able to figure i out. im in the process of redoing the interior, so i might just change the whole thing and install some autometer in place of the stock gauges.

ive heard that it might have something to do with the wires that go to the tail lamps but idk. anyways good luck

crytical point

I was working on my 88 firebird with this exact same problem and I tested every wire and the voltage wasn't even 1v. I tested the switches and I even pulled a set from the junkyard and they didn't work and tested out the same on the ohm meter. Well I ended up bypassing the dimmer all together and now they work and full brightness when they should. Honestly after dealing with the guage cluster in a firebird I love my camaro just a little more.

BlackFormula

iTrader: (3)

i've been having the same problem, it seems that i can run a wire to the fuse for the gage lights, with the ignition circuit, and they will be on full bright with max amps pumping through them. took out my dimmer switch(wheel assembly) and tested for resistance, got minimal resistance accross, but got a boat load on one circuit. i'm only getting 1.26 mili-Amps to the fuse, thats like... + .00126 amps. not even a full amp, on a 5 amp rated fuse. IM STILL CONFUSED!! HELP ASAP!!!!

BackInBlackGP

The dimmer switch is merely an input to the load transistor under the dash, just to the left of the center console.

Transistor looks like this:





I would replace that, since it is the device that carries the current of the lamps.

thisme305

iTrader: (1)

Try just checking your fuse itself. I had the same problem and i found out I had a blown fuse underneath the dash.

snflupigus

i just had the same problem... yanked my alarm system out and am in process of reconnecting all the wires that it cut into. one of them wasnt even soldered, just wrapped and taped.

I am also having starter issues sometimes too so thats why i yanked the alarm and remote start. I assumed it was interferring with both. I pop my fuse on my cig lighter every time i try to put something there too so...

let me know what fixes yours.