gauge lights not working
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Joined: Nov 2008
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Car: 1990 RS tbi camaro
Engine: 5.0 tbi stock, hooker headers
gauge lights not working
any one know why my gauges are not working i replaced the fuse for the gauges and it still doesnt light up they used to work and now stopped working. is there a bulb behind the gauges that goes out? all my other lights work inside and out, exept the tail-light 
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From: Destin, Florida
Car: 91 Trans Am Convertible
Engine: LB9 5.0 TPI
Transmission: 5 SPD
Axle/Gears: Posi Rear
Re: gauge lights not working
Apeiron is right - the dimmer control on the headlight switch is the first place to look. Make sure it is not in the "off" position before going any further with troubleshooting.
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 10,950
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From: Orange, SoCal
Car: 1990 Pontiac Trans Am
Engine: 355 TPI siamesed runners
Transmission: Tremec T56
Axle/Gears: 12-Bolt 3.73
Re: gauge lights not working
The lights in your dash are connected to your tail lights. If your dash lights dont work then you know your tail lights are out.
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Car: 1990 RS tbi camaro
Engine: 5.0 tbi stock, hooker headers
Re: gauge lights not working
the **** is in the "on" position. and my dash lights are out,but all my back lights work except my tail light:my third brake light
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From: Mesa AZ
Car: 87 Firebird, 90 bird coming soon
Engine: 355 Chevy Vortec Heads TPI, LT1 inj
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 2.77 posi 9-bolt
Re: gauge lights not working
there is also a lighting module that may be bad. It's by the blinker/flasher breakers and buzzer speaker. if all else is good, this may be your issue.
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: PA
Car: 86 Trans AM
Engine: LS1 (not stock...)
Transmission: Built T56
Axle/Gears: Strange 12-bolt w/ 3.73
Re: gauge lights not working
This is an quote from another thread where I posted some pictures from the factory manual to show where the actual dimmer module is. Here is the whole thread that is titled "Dash lights not working".....
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/elec...tml?highlight=
J.
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Ive never experienced this... They are on a completely different circuit, are they not? Ive had my "instr" fuse blow due to a dime stuck in my cig lighter...but my tail lights still worked fine.
J.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/elec...tml?highlight=
Couple things it could be... One. Double check the fuses. Swap the one that the cig lighter is on... just to be sure. Its the same fuse as the dash lights if I remember correctly. Sometimes fuses can blow and they're hard to see.
Now...Im willing to bet its one of two issues. I didnt look back into your old problem very much. But Im thinking its either the switch, or the remote dimmer. Ide almost put my money on the remote dimmer. This little sucker is tucked away nicely on the passenger side of the steering column. Its very hard to get to, and almost impossible to see. Ill post the info that I have on it. I just helped someone else with it, so I even have some snap shots of the factory manual from GM showing the location. The picture is of the steering column brace....you can kinda get your hand up there. haha... its fun.
I think its silly for where they put it, especially since they seem to go bad frequently. Just a tip...you can get to the plug and un-hook it, and bring the wiring down to the new part to test it first before you try to remove/replace it.
That might help ya out some.
J.
Now...Im willing to bet its one of two issues. I didnt look back into your old problem very much. But Im thinking its either the switch, or the remote dimmer. Ide almost put my money on the remote dimmer. This little sucker is tucked away nicely on the passenger side of the steering column. Its very hard to get to, and almost impossible to see. Ill post the info that I have on it. I just helped someone else with it, so I even have some snap shots of the factory manual from GM showing the location. The picture is of the steering column brace....you can kinda get your hand up there. haha... its fun.
I think its silly for where they put it, especially since they seem to go bad frequently. Just a tip...you can get to the plug and un-hook it, and bring the wiring down to the new part to test it first before you try to remove/replace it.
That might help ya out some.
J.
J.
----------
J.
Last edited by ghettocruiser; Dec 23, 2008 at 06:42 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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From: Mesa AZ
Car: 87 Firebird, 90 bird coming soon
Engine: 355 Chevy Vortec Heads TPI, LT1 inj
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 2.77 posi 9-bolt
Re: gauge lights not working
That's the module I was talking about. Thanks for correcting my wording. I had that happen to me too. Hard to get at without taking some things out of your way, but possible.
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From: out of my mind; be back in 5 minutes....
Car: 1989 Firebird Formula
Engine: Internal Combustion
Transmission: Completed
Axle/Gears: ones that turn.
Re: gauge lights not working
This is an quote from another thread where I posted some pictures from the factory manual to show where the actual dimmer module is. Here is the whole thread that is titled "Dash lights not working".....
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/elec...tml?highlight=
J.
----------
Ive never experienced this... They are on a completely different circuit, are they not? Ive had my "instr" fuse blow due to a dime stuck in my cig lighter...but my tail lights still worked fine.
J.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/elec...tml?highlight=
J.
----------
Ive never experienced this... They are on a completely different circuit, are they not? Ive had my "instr" fuse blow due to a dime stuck in my cig lighter...but my tail lights still worked fine.
J.
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From: Bridgeville, PA
Car: 1988 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350
Re: gauge lights not working
Check the bulbs there are bulbs in there, i actually just replaced a couple in mine, also had to rplace the bulbs where my a/c heater controls are both went bad try that u can pick them up at advance auto or napa
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Central Valley, CA
Car: 1990 Camaro RS
Engine: 3.1 V6 MFI
Transmission: MD8 Hydra-Matic 4L60
Axle/Gears: Standard/3.23
Re: gauge lights not working
Like Apeiron said earlier, check the headlight switch. Probably just wearing out. . .
#26 in the picture. (from the Chevy 90' Camaro Service Manual)
As for your 3rd brake light, have you removed it and checked the bulbs? I wouldn't be suprised if all 5 of those lil' bulbs burned out. Mine were out when I bought my car. No one ever bothered to change them. . .
#26 in the picture. (from the Chevy 90' Camaro Service Manual)
As for your 3rd brake light, have you removed it and checked the bulbs? I wouldn't be suprised if all 5 of those lil' bulbs burned out. Mine were out when I bought my car. No one ever bothered to change them. . .
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Re: gauge lights not working
Check the 5 amp (orange) fuse. I know it sounds dumb but I blew it and thought the lights were on a different fuse and didnt even know it.
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Las Vegas
Car: 1987 Formula (original owner)
Engine: 305 TPI
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Re: gauge lights not working
You said you replaced the gages fuse, but was that the 10 amp "gages" fuse, or was it the 5 amp "inst lp"(instrument lamps) fuse? Changing the 10 amp fuse wouldn't have affected the lighting. So, yes, check that 5 amp fuse.
But if the "inst lp" fuse is ok, then also check the 20 amp "tail" fuse. Even tho the dash lights have their own circuit, that circuit is tied to the taillight circuit, and the headlight/dimmer switch controls them all. And, therein, lies the connection between the headlight/dimmer switch, the dash lights and the taillights. So if the "tail" fuse blows, the "inst lp" fuse can remain unaffected, yet you'll still have no dash lights.
If the "tail" fuse is bad, however, then replacing it will probably just lead to blowing the new fuse the instant you turn the lights on again, telling you there's, obviously, a short somewhere that you'll have to track down.
But if the "inst lp" fuse is ok, then also check the 20 amp "tail" fuse. Even tho the dash lights have their own circuit, that circuit is tied to the taillight circuit, and the headlight/dimmer switch controls them all. And, therein, lies the connection between the headlight/dimmer switch, the dash lights and the taillights. So if the "tail" fuse blows, the "inst lp" fuse can remain unaffected, yet you'll still have no dash lights.
If the "tail" fuse is bad, however, then replacing it will probably just lead to blowing the new fuse the instant you turn the lights on again, telling you there's, obviously, a short somewhere that you'll have to track down.
Thread Starter
Banned
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Car: 1990 RS tbi camaro
Engine: 5.0 tbi stock, hooker headers
Re: gauge lights not working
i changed the 10amp "gauges" fuse and the 20amp "tail" fuses everything electric works exept my gauge lights.also i have no fuse in the "radio" slot if that matters.also i have taken out the fuse for the trunk latch motor because if that use is in the motor doesnt shut up. thnx firebird guy
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