Installing a Dakota Digital and the back lights won't come on. There are three grey wires on the plug (pin 3, 11, 12) which are supposed to be illumination to the gauges. All of them read 0V with or without the headlights on and the dimmer turned all the way up.

I'm not sure if these worked before I took the OEM cluster out but I assume it didn't as I never touched the headlight switch. Headlights and tail lights come on but the gauge cluster illumination not getting any voltage.

Any idea what to test next or how to check if it's the dimmer that is bad? I will order another switch but not sure what else to look for. Looks like I need to take the cluster back out to get at the headlight switch.

Any help appreciated.

 

What kind of car?

 

88 Iroc TPI

I found a diagram and there is a 5A fuse I can check but pretty sure I checked it this weekend but will double check. Otherwise no clue besides swapping in a new switch and hope.

 

OK, the Firebirds had a "dimmer module" that consisted of a 2N3055 transistor mounted on a heatsink; the transistor often fails, causing this symptom. Your Camaro doesn't have that though, so not that.

Yes by all means check the INST LPS fuse. Correct way to "check" is by removing it and putting a new one in its place. Not, eyeballing it.

 

Fuse is good. Have to pull out switch tomorrow after work. Found a diagram of the switch. Every other item that comes off the switch works EXCEPT the dimmer so either the dimmer is bad or the wiring from the fuse panel to the cluster connector is bad. Seems really odd and having to chase my tail figuring it out.