ok in my 88 firebird hardly any of my lights work. the cluster dont work the light beside the auto shift dont work and others.the floor lights work and the dome light works.headlight switch works but gauge lights dont come on.the guages work though.the panel dimmer switch works because when u move it all the way up it turns the dome light on.what could this be?is it grounding out some where hidden?please help

 

did you check your fuses, i would expect there are other thinkgs that don;t work in the interior also, defrost maybe, cig lighter, does you fan blower work or radio, i would bet it is a fuse.
jeff

 

well the fuses are fine and the radio works along with fans and a/c-heat and the cig lighter works every now and then when you twist it the right way because the lighter is rusted. the only thing i can think of that dont work are the lights but the fuse of the thing that says gage on the fuse box is fine and the spot above cluster is missing but the chiltons book says there isnt suppose to be one there anyway.

 

Did you check for one that says "INST LMP"?

 

check to see if the running lights and tail lights come on with the head lights. the running and tail lights are on the same power as the guages

 

I just went through this with mine this spring...
Pull the dash and check all the 194 bulbs, and their connections.
you can tighten where the socket meets the printed board by bending the contacts a little.
There is also a printed ceramic board in your dimmer dial, that can crack, you'll never know it and it can cause a break in where the dimmer contacts and screw up the dash.(I had problems with both of these and the blinkers, and the bright indicatior...)
Pull the dial out and there's a metal tab holding it together, it's a simple matter of pulling it apart and checking the board to determine if you need to replace.

 

It could be your Headlight Switch...

John

 

well running lights and taillights come on with headlights im thinkin it has to do with the dimmer switch.thanks for your help

 

I had this problem a while ago when I still drove my car and its more complicated than you could imagine. Its not a fuse, its not a bad light, its the module behind the dash. For some reason the first sign of it being broken is the gauge lights going out. It is a pain is the ***, and will be a lot of money at the shop. I tried to fix it using a wiring diagram and instructions from someone on here and gave up after like a week. I just lived with it for a while and then installed new bulbs behind the dash on separate custom wires and fuses. That was a pain too. I forget the technical name for the part though, but I know a lot of people have had this problem.

~Matt

 

i'm having this same problem right now. it's been this way for about a week, so when i'm going down the highway i hold my cellphone to the speedo and find my speen, then just set the cruise. but yes it is defenitely harder than you would think. I'm not sure if i'm having the same problems as your or not, but i was messing with the wires in my stereo that day, then that night they wouldn't come on. I checked all the fuses and none of them had blown so i tihnk the ground or something must have come loose. My project for tommow.

 

Have you checked the remote dimmer module?

 

i have heard many people say that it could be the dimmer switch that rolls up and down but what i dont get is y does the interior light still come on when i roll it allthe way up but my gauges dont. maybe they are on seperate wires. i can take it off and see if its a broke contact behind it.

 

i have heard many people say that it could be the dimmer switch that rolls up and down but what i dont get is y does the interior light still come on when i roll it allthe way up but my gauges dont. maybe they are on seperate wires. i can take it off and see if its a broke contact behind it. personally i think haveing to go through all this is

 

The dimmer switch and remote dimmer module are on two seperate circuits.

 

Anyone with a Camaro having this problem?

If not, maybe it's the specific switch to the Firebird?

Pacer

 

Camaros don't have the remote dimmer module.

 

The dome lamp is switched...either on or off.
The reostat is what caused the problem in mine.

 

I had a car that I had to replace the switch... One night I was driving along and all of my lightse went out EXCEPT my headlights.. I checked the fuses, but I could smell some plastic melting... It turned out the switch just gave up...

John

 

aight kool so we pretty much have narrowed it down to the switch(wat most are pointing towards) and just the complete wiring behind the gauges.thanks guys for all the help!

 

ok new problem i think its not the switch because i took it apart to see and it looked good but i cleaned it just to make sure so i put it back in and they still didnt work so i need to know what all i have to do to trace the wires back and possibly replace them.

 

Try and search the remote dimmer module as a topic. I'm pretty sure there was a big discussion on here a year or two ago and Vader (I think) provided diagrams and instructions. Cleaning it won't help if its already broken. I tried that too....

~Matt

 

i have a 92 rs and almost all my lights do not work.

headlights do not work at all
parking lights only work when i hit the turn signals
taillights only hurt when i hit the brakes
guages and shifter plate do not work.

anyone have any clue

 

Check the "TAIL" & "INST LMP" fuse, if they are both good then start checking all the wiring at the sockets for corrosion, burned out bulbs, or broken wires. Those two fuses control all the lights mentioned.