Instrument cluster lights

[hardylane23]

Thanks for letting me into the group. I have an 85 GMC Classic Sierra. My instrument cluster gauges work but the lights will not. Is this normal when the printed circuit board is bad?

 

[Memaloose]

Welcome from Arizona!

Too new a rig for me to be familiar with but from my past work I think it could be your light switch that dims and brightens the dash lamps. Something to check anyway. Good luck!

 

[hardylane23]

I think I have tried that but I will try it again. Thanks

 

[Jgonick]

Several different things can cause dash lights not to work. Start with the easiest- check the fuse. Check the ground (sidewall by emergency brake). Possibly the headlight pull switch (it rotates to dim dash lights) might be bad or have a loose connection.

 

[Turbo4whl]

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

Okay instrument lights, power from the parking/ taillight fuse to the headlight switch. Through the dial resistor in the switch back to the fuse panel. Through the 5 amp fuse then to the connector on the instrument panel. Lots of places to loose a connection.

So split up the system like this first: With your test light on a good ground. Turn the lights on and probe the 5 amp fuse. You should have a light on your test light and you can dim it by turning the knob on the headlight switch.

If the light does not light the bad connection is possibly bad at the headlight switch. Also could be bad at the back of the fuse panel. If the test lights up from the first test then you need to check the connection at the instrument panel.

 

[Ken B]

I am trying to get the instrument cluster lights working, some do some don't, anyone have any tricks to getting the individual lamps to work? I am replacing bulbs with LEDs , i am about at 60% working......

 

[gmbellew]

I am trying to get the instrument cluster lights working, some do some don't, anyone have any tricks to getting the individual lamps to work? I am replacing bulbs with LEDs , i am about at 60% working......

Some LED are directional. Can you install the bulbs 180 deg different than currently installed?

 

[Ken B]

thanks I will give that a try. but these LEDs are so much brighter I might not need any more .

 

[Rob red]

My truck came to me with literally every bulb burnt out except one of them.

I would check the bulbs as well

 

[Donald vonMinden]

Check the tail light fuse, sometimes the tail lights interconnect with the dash lights so the driver is alerted when the tail lights are not working........