Electronics Need help wiring something up? Thinking of adding an electrical component to your car? Need help troubleshooting that wiring glitch?

gauge lights

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 11, 2006 | 11:57 AM
  #1  
monoply6's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
From: llandudno north wales,uk
Car: 89 trans am gta
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: auto
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt
gauge lights

hi can some one please point me in the right direction my gauge lights and heater lights dont work dome light and under dash lights work ive checked the fuses are there any in line fuses that i need to check ive searched with no luck 89 gta thanks
Reply
Old Nov 29, 2006 | 12:48 PM
  #2  
1987earthquake's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 478
Likes: 0
From: Hattiesburg, MS
Car: 1987 Camaro Z28
Engine: 5.3L
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 3.42LSD
mine too. help
Reply
Old Dec 30, 2006 | 10:09 PM
  #3  
Smellofrubber's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: Owasso, Oklahoma (north of Tulsa)
Car: 85 TPI IROC-Z
Engine: LB9
Transmission: 700 Bulletproof
Axle/Gears: 3:42
Same issue here as well, I just even swapped out the head light switch which was a pain in the @SS! before i put the dash back together i thought i would check what else may be the problem...
Reply
Old Dec 31, 2006 | 06:25 AM
  #4  
JamesC's Avatar
Moderator
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 19,282
Likes: 103
From: Lawrence, KS
Car: Met. Silver 85 IROC/Sold
Engine: 350 HO Deluxe (350ci/330hp)
Transmission: T-5 (Non-WC)
Axle/Gears: Limited Slip 3.23's
Don't know if the following will be helpful or not:

CIRCUIT OPERATION

Voltage is applied through the TAIL Fuse to the LIGHT SWITCH at all times. With the LIGHT SWITCH in "Head" or "Park," current flows through the LIGHT SWITCH, INST FUSE, and in parallel through the various instrument panel and console lights to ground.

The lights can be dimmed using the rheostat in the LIGHT SWITCH.

TROUBLINGSHOOTING HINTS

If no instrument lights go on:

Check TAIL FUSE by turning on park lights.

Check INST FUSE.

JamesC
Reply
Old Dec 31, 2006 | 08:51 AM
  #5  
ringo234's Avatar
Supreme Member
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,581
Likes: 3
From: So Cal
Car: 89 IROC Z28
Engine: 357 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.42 Posi
Originally Posted by monoply6
hi can some one please point me in the right direction my gauge lights and heater lights dont work dome light and under dash lights work ive checked the fuses are there any in line fuses that i need to check ive searched with no luck 89 gta thanks
This might be a stupid question but have you tried turning the light switch back and forth. I only ask because there are some spots on my light switch "dimmer" that are bad and the dash lights just don't come on but if I turn the switch slightly they do come on
Reply
Old Dec 31, 2006 | 09:02 AM
  #6  
patricktroyz28's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: Labrador City, Newfoundland, Canada
Car: 1991 Z-28
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Mine are like that sometimes too..I have to "jiggle" the headlight lever to get them to come on.
Reply
Old Dec 31, 2006 | 11:35 PM
  #7  
Screamin86's Avatar
Supreme Member
20 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,320
Likes: 0
From: Verona Va
Car: 86 Trans Am,03 Yukon,92 Z28
Engine: 5.3, 5.3, lb9
Transmission: th350,4l60e,700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.73,3.73,2.73
my dimmer doesnt work they are stuck on full brightness been like that since i got it
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2007 | 11:31 AM
  #8  
gearhead0384's Avatar
Supreme Member
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,948
Likes: 2
From: Chicago
Car: 1989 Camaro IROC-Z
Engine: L98 350 TPI
Transmission: Built TH-700 R4 (Vilgilante 2800)
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt w/ PBR's
Mine also do not work. They did yesterday but when working on some autometer gages I jumped the led light wire in the fog light switch with the fog light switch wire itself and all the gauge lights went out, the HVAC lights when out and the HVAC blower motor no longer works. I need help too!

Kevin
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2007 | 12:41 PM
  #9  
Camaro-please?'s Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
From: Wheaton, IL
Car: 88 Camaro Sport Coupe
Engine: 305 TBI
Originally Posted by Screamin86
my dimmer doesnt work they are stuck on full brightness been like that since i got it
I have every one of these problems....get GM on the pohne
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2007 | 01:29 PM
  #10  
Screamin86's Avatar
Supreme Member
20 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,320
Likes: 0
From: Verona Va
Car: 86 Trans Am,03 Yukon,92 Z28
Engine: 5.3, 5.3, lb9
Transmission: th350,4l60e,700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.73,3.73,2.73
idont really mind becaue whatever i drive i always hve the lights on full brightness anyway but im starting to have faliures in the entire lighting system damn pop up lights
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2007 | 02:23 PM
  #11  
Camaro-please?'s Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
From: Wheaton, IL
Car: 88 Camaro Sport Coupe
Engine: 305 TBI
Is it possible to just take off the gauge panel and just replace a light bulb or is the problem deeper than that?
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2007 | 03:16 PM
  #12  
JamesC's Avatar
Moderator
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 19,282
Likes: 103
From: Lawrence, KS
Car: Met. Silver 85 IROC/Sold
Engine: 350 HO Deluxe (350ci/330hp)
Transmission: T-5 (Non-WC)
Axle/Gears: Limited Slip 3.23's
To replace a bulb, the cluster must be removed.

JamesC
Reply
Old Jan 4, 2007 | 02:43 PM
  #13  
Crazy Bill's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
Car: !989 Trans am GTA
Engine: 5.7 liter 4 bolt main
Transmission: 700r4 auto
Axle/Gears: 3.73 rear end
This turned out to be one big problem posts. (gauge lights)

Gentlemen, for starters. When you turn on your headlights and they are all on front and back. Check all the fuses, mostly the gauge and the instrument panel fuse ( 5 amp fuse ). This all doesn't work, well That would mean that the dimmer switch took a crap. I went threw the same thing with my 89 iroc. It is mounted under the dash right by the right side of the steering wheel. On trans ams and firebirds. Left sides on camaros. It looks like a lil amplifier, and it is holded on by 2 8mm screws that are blk. If you by this thing brand new it costs 25.00. And believe me it is very easy to blow these things out. My suggestion is to go to the junk yard and buy at least 3 of these things just it case. They are very cheap, and should only cost aprx about 5.00 a pop if your lucky. any comments feel free.
----------
Originally Posted by gearhead0384
Mine also do not work. They did yesterday but when working on some autometer gages I jumped the led light wire in the fog light switch with the fog light switch wire itself and all the gauge lights went out, the HVAC lights when out and the HVAC blower motor no longer works. I need help too!

Kevin
Gearhead0384, did you fix your problem yet?

Last edited by Crazy Bill; Jan 4, 2007 at 02:48 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
Reply
Old Jul 7, 2009 | 06:18 AM
  #14  
firebird's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: gaithersburg, MD
Re: gauge lights

Crazy Bill,

What if my dimmer switch works? I can still go from high to low beam with no problem. Now, are you talking about the dimmer switch being the one that dims the gauge lights? If so, I haven't check into that. Let me know if I on the same page with you. Every time I replace the 5 amp intrument panel fuse it blows within 20 seconds.

Thanks,

88 gta
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
BRoss99
Electronics
28
Aug 10, 2025 05:08 PM
Ghettobird52
Tech / General Engine
16
Jul 5, 2024 11:18 PM
firebirdta84
Interior Parts Wanted
1
Aug 30, 2015 09:28 PM
justin57
TBI
30
Aug 20, 2015 07:05 PM
Omega
Interior Parts for Sale
2
Aug 10, 2015 12:46 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:41 AM.