gauge lights
05-23-2010, 11:09 PM
#1
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Car: 91' Firebird
Engine: 3.1 LH0 V6
Transmission: Auto 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 limited slip
gauge lights
So the other night my gauge lights wouldn't some on. Headlights, tail lights still work, the turn signal lights, brights light, and other dash indicator lights all still work. It's just the illumination behind the gauges.
I looked at the wiring diagram in my manual but it's about useless. Are they controlled by the headlight switch? What could cause just those to go out?
I looked at the wiring diagram in my manual but it's about useless. Are they controlled by the headlight switch? What could cause just those to go out?
05-23-2010, 11:38 PM
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Car: 1992 RS / 1989 RS
Engine: 3.1L MFI / Vortec 383 TBI
Transmission: T5 / LS-T56
Axle/Gears: 3.42 open / 3.73 Eaton posi
Re: gauge lights
There is a gauges fuse in the fuse panel. The light switch does control them, and if the dimmer in the light switch has a dead spot, all the gauge lights will go out.
05-23-2010, 11:48 PM
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Car: 91' Firebird
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Axle/Gears: 3.23 limited slip
Re: gauge lights
alright, I didn't see a fuse for it but it was dark. I'll find it tomorrow, hopefully that solves it.
05-25-2010, 02:56 PM
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Car: 91' Firebird
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Re: gauge lights
The dimmer is all the way to bright, without making the dome light come on. The fuse is good.
Whats the next most likely problem? Since I've owned the car I've had problems with the headlights poping up, but even it they stayed down the lighs would be on. Would that lead anyone to believe that the switch is bad?
Whats the next most likely problem? Since I've owned the car I've had problems with the headlights poping up, but even it they stayed down the lighs would be on. Would that lead anyone to believe that the switch is bad?
05-26-2010, 08:45 AM
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Car: LOWERED ♦ CRIMSON METALFLAKE
Engine: ► 400 KUBES ◄
Transmission: 765R4
Axle/Gears: EATON POSI 4.56
Light Subject
Using a voltmeter or test light (the type for testing for power, not a continuity tester) check for power on the orange wire at the headlight switch.
Then check for power on the dark green wire at the headlight switch.
Is there power on both wires?
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Then check for power on the dark green wire at the headlight switch.
Is there power on both wires?
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I Hit The Water Barrels Because My Car Was Dirty
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05-29-2010, 04:14 PM
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Car: 91' Firebird
Engine: 3.1 LH0 V6
Transmission: Auto 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 limited slip
Re: Light Subject
I couldn't find any dark green wire behind the headlight switch, but I tested all the wires behind the headlight switch and the dimmer with the headlights ON, the dimmer on HIGH, using the neg terminal as a ground. Here are the results from top to bottom with wire color:
Dimmer
Brown 12V
white 0V
Black 0V
black /red 12V
switch
Orange 12V
Red 12V
Yellow 12V
Brown 12V
That switch must also control the motors right? What can I check so that the headlight motors will work when I want them to? If the switch is bad could it be causing both these problems?
Dimmer
Brown 12V
white 0V
Black 0V
black /red 12V
switch
Orange 12V
Red 12V
Yellow 12V
Brown 12V
That switch must also control the motors right? What can I check so that the headlight motors will work when I want them to? If the switch is bad could it be causing both these problems?
Last edited by K-slice; 05-29-2010 at 06:34 PM.
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05-29-2010, 08:00 PM
#8
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Car: 91' Firebird
Engine: 3.1 LH0 V6
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Axle/Gears: 3.23 limited slip
Re: Light Subject
I also found this thing to the left of the steering column:
When I have it unplugged I have voltage where the 2 outer prongs go but no voltage in the middle. When plugged, in there's 12 volts on all 3 prongs.
When I have it unplugged I have voltage where the 2 outer prongs go but no voltage in the middle. When plugged, in there's 12 volts on all 3 prongs.
05-30-2010, 05:40 PM
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Car: 91' Firebird
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Axle/Gears: 3.23 limited slip
Re: Light Subject
Since that auto dimmer or whatever seemed to be the problem in many other posts I read I tried to find a part to replace it, no auto parts store even knew what it was, neither did radio shack. From the info could that be the problem?
05-31-2010, 01:21 PM
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Car: 1985 Trans Am
Engine: 305 Carb
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Re: gauge lights
i have this exact same problem.... all my dummie lights work etc etc headlamps taillight everything EXCEPT my Gage lights
05-31-2010, 11:55 PM
#11
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Car: 91' Firebird
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Transmission: Auto 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 limited slip
Re: gauge lights
I dont know enough about this part of the wiring system to know what all my reading mean. And there seems to be no good wiring diagrams for the lighting system.
Can anyone help me make some sence of this or narrow down what could be causing these lights not to work?
Can anyone help me make some sence of this or narrow down what could be causing these lights not to work?
06-01-2010, 08:51 AM
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Car: LOWERED ♦ CRIMSON METALFLAKE
Engine: ► 400 KUBES ◄
Transmission: 765R4
Axle/Gears: EATON POSI 4.56
Remote Possibilities
Because you have 12 volts on the remote dimmer output, look for a bad connection between the remote dimmer output and the INST LPS fuse.
Once you make sure that’s good you’ll have 12 volts on both sides of the INST LPS fuse.
The INST LPS fuse feeds the dash lights.
The yellow wire is the one that goes to the headlight door module.
Due to the fact you have 12 volts on the yellow wire that part of the switch is good.
You can use your test light or meter to find out if the 12 volts is making to the module.
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I I’ve NEVER Hit The Wall! - The Safer Barrier Prevented It
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Once you make sure that’s good you’ll have 12 volts on both sides of the INST LPS fuse.
The INST LPS fuse feeds the dash lights.
The yellow wire is the one that goes to the headlight door module.
Due to the fact you have 12 volts on the yellow wire that part of the switch is good.
You can use your test light or meter to find out if the 12 volts is making to the module.
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Happy Racing!
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I I’ve NEVER Hit The Wall! - The Safer Barrier Prevented It
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06-07-2010, 09:42 PM
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Car: 1986 camaro Sports Coupe
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Re: Remote Possibilities
im having a similer problem, my gauges dont work but i think my problem is i had my alturnator wire off my alturnator today and it touched metal and i got some spark so i think this might have blow a fuse, or could this have shorted something?
06-09-2010, 09:16 AM
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Car: LOWERED ♦ CRIMSON METALFLAKE
Engine: ► 400 KUBES ◄
Transmission: 765R4
Axle/Gears: EATON POSI 4.56
I Can’t See My Speedometer At Night, So I’ll Just Accelerate Till I Hear It Peg
Well it’s always possible to blow a fuse.
Check the INST LPS fuse.
If it looks good use a voltmeter or test light (the type for testing for voltage, not a continuity tester) to probe both prongs of the fuse socket.
Is there power on both prongs?
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8 Wheels Corner Better Than 4, If You’re On The Outside You Have Fair Warning
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Check the INST LPS fuse.
If it looks good use a voltmeter or test light (the type for testing for voltage, not a continuity tester) to probe both prongs of the fuse socket.
Is there power on both prongs?
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8 Wheels Corner Better Than 4, If You’re On The Outside You Have Fair Warning
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06-15-2010, 12:25 PM
#15
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Car: 91' Firebird
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Transmission: Auto 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 limited slip
Re: I Can’t See My Speedometer At Night, So I’ll Just Accelerate Till I Hear It Peg
Some graduations put a hold on this for a little while, but I'm back on it now.
Lights on or off, I have power at the inst lps fuse. that is, my fuse tester light comes on so there's power on both sides. So since I have power on the fuse, that confirms all switches (light switch, dimmer, auto dimmer) and all that wiring is good?
Lights on or off, I have power at the inst lps fuse. that is, my fuse tester light comes on so there's power on both sides. So since I have power on the fuse, that confirms all switches (light switch, dimmer, auto dimmer) and all that wiring is good?
06-16-2010, 09:18 AM
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Car: LOWERED ♦ CRIMSON METALFLAKE
Engine: ► 400 KUBES ◄
Transmission: 765R4
Axle/Gears: EATON POSI 4.56
I Can’t See My Speedometer At Night, So I’ll Just Accelerate Till I Hear It Peg
Due to the fact you have power out of the INST LPS fuse, you have a broken connection from the output of that fuse and the line going to or in the dash.
Included in your troubleshooting, check the connector going to the dash.
The color of the wire involved should be gray.
If the gray wire has power, the problem is a bad connector contact or internal to the dash.
It might be a cracked trace circuit board (which can be difficult to see).
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After The Fourth Barrel Roll I Lost Control Of The Car
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Included in your troubleshooting, check the connector going to the dash.
The color of the wire involved should be gray.
If the gray wire has power, the problem is a bad connector contact or internal to the dash.
It might be a cracked trace circuit board (which can be difficult to see).
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Happy Racing!
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After The Fourth Barrel Roll I Lost Control Of The Car
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06-16-2010, 10:22 AM
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Re: gauge lights
my car does the exact same thing. i was told the dimmer switch was bad. anyone know where to get them.
06-16-2010, 01:26 PM
#18
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Car: LOWERED ♦ CRIMSON METALFLAKE
Engine: ► 400 KUBES ◄
Transmission: 765R4
Axle/Gears: EATON POSI 4.56
A Re-moat Is What I Protect My Property With
From a dealer.
If they’re out, you can replace the NPN power transistor Motorola OC28 available at electronic parts stores.
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Happy Racing!
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After The Fourth Barrel Roll I Lost Control Of The Car
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If they’re out, you can replace the NPN power transistor Motorola OC28 available at electronic parts stores.
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Happy Racing!
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After The Fourth Barrel Roll I Lost Control Of The Car
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06-13-2011, 02:55 AM
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Car: 1989 Pontiac Trans AM GTA
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700r4
Re: gauge lights
i installed a sterio and my dash lights went out. i wonder if its the same problem because the radio should have nothing to do with the dash lights correct?
06-26-2011, 11:15 PM
#22
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Car: '87 Pontiac Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350 5.7L TPI (L98)
Transmission: 700R4
Re: gauge lights
I have a question about this subject, I have already replaced the dimmer transistor but used 2N3055 and no change but I get a 1 volt drop on the INST LPS fuse when it's plugged in. If I have the fuse out and probe the side going to the transistor I get about a -.7V drop from bat voltage. I have disconnected everything that the INST LPS fuse powers and all the parking lamps and got full bat voltage on the one side of the INST LPS fuse. As soon as I plug in 1 lamp I get the drop. I noticed that when I remove the convienence center it's about .2V-.3V less drop. I took out the transistor and get bat voltage on the brown and green white wires. Nina seems to know alot about this does this sound normal or bad??
06-28-2011, 10:08 PM
#23
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Car: '87 Pontiac Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350 5.7L TPI (L98)
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Re: gauge lights
can some one please measure the voltage they get on the INST LPS fuse with parking lights on I would really appreciate it! do you get full battery voltage or some drop, and how much?
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