I have been trying to figure out why my dash lights are not working. I just can't seem to nail it down. I put the back lit guages in from a GT. I checked all the fuses, they were fine. All the bulbs are correct. I even replaced the transistor under the dash. It stopped working when I replaced the radio with one from a grand prix with a 7 band monsoon CD player. Even that doesn't light up. I checked the ground wire from the dash and it was fine. I checked to see if there was power coming from the dimmer switch and that was fine. The board (if that's what its called) on the back of the dash works. I also switched out the dimmer and headlight switch. Nothing seems to be working. Every once in a while the radio will cut out and the courtesy lights will shine dimly. I have to turn the radio off and turn on the interior lights to make the radio work again. I just don't know what else to check.
------------------ 1984 White Fiero Sport Coupe (Juliet) in restoration https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/089093.html 1988 Red Fiero Standard Coupe (Bella) in restoration 1990 Black Buick Reatta (Noir) 2002 White Chevy Impala base(Haylie)
[This message has been edited by 1984whitesc (edited 07-22-2014).]
If it started when you put in the grand am radio, try unplugging the radio to see if there is a change. Did you use a wiring harness for the radio, or change the wiring in the car?
If you get bored, swing it over to Jordan MN this weekend and I'll probe wires with you... Just call me in advance, having a wisdom tooth yanked tomorrow.
I put a different radio in one of my corvettes a few years back. My side markers and tail lights stopped working. It was all due to where I grounded the radio. Instead of spicing into a ground in the harness, I just ran a new wire and screwed it to a chassis ground and they worked again. The radio worked fine with both ways I had it grounded.
Also check that your tail lights are working. At least it used to be when the dash lights didnt work, it warned you the tail lights werent either. You may be driving around with no tail lights. It could be all just because of a bad ground in the tail lights. Always check the fuses too....could be that simple.
I'm having this same problem. A couple smacks to the gauge pod and they come back on Most of the time. Wasn't fun getting pulled over for that on my first long trip in it. My tail lights go out too.
If you get bored, swing it over to Jordan MN this weekend and I'll probe wires with you... Just call me in advance, having a wisdom tooth yanked tomorrow.
That would be great if something could be figured out. I'll have all day Saturday. The tail lights I am happy to say work properly. I have also wiggled all the connectors on the back of the dash and radio, or anything to do with the dash lights. They are still not working.
I wasn't able to make it out to Chirs' place. I haven't been able to look at the problem. Getting her ready for the Frazee show.
I replaced he bulb in the cigarette lighter and that works. I searched for the circuits the dash lights include and that's a parallel circuit. That works just fine. I did what was told to me on the ogers cave. I jumped the green and brown wire that connects to the transistor, and nadda. That should have lit up the dash lights. I was thinking it could be a ground, but wouldn't all the gauges, and other lights, not work either?
[This message has been edited by 1984whitesc (edited 07-22-2014).]
I managed to find out what the issue was. The fusing junction intercepting plug attached to the grey wire wasn't gripping the fuse... All this trouble for that......
