Instrument cluster problem

[Jimmy Gilbert]

One night coming home from work, all my dash lights and gauges quit working. The next day the gauges worked until I turned on the lights. Could use some help in figuring it out. It an 84 Chevy C10 with a 250 straight 6 with a 3 speed.

 

[DanMcG]

I'd start with checking your grounds.

 

[wingman50]

The grounds are a good place to start. Also check the harness connection on the back of your gauges. You may be able to reach up under the dash to locate harness. Wiggle it to see if has come loose.

 

[Obwonkonobe]

Grounds and fuses

 

[Jimmy Gilbert]

I don't even know where to start with the grounds. I will admit, electrical is not my thing.

 

[Snoots]

I don't even know where to start with the grounds. I will admit, electrical is not my thing.

Under the left hand side of the dash near the parking brake. Look toward the left kick panel.

 

[chengny]

One night coming home from work, all my dash lights and gauges quit working. The next day the gauges worked until I turned on the lights. Could use some help in figuring it out. It an 84 Chevy C10 with a 250 straight 6 with a 3 speed.

Do you mean the actual gauges (the needles on the dials) all dropped to zero - or do you mean the backlighting for the gauges went out?

It sounds like the first one.

Just as a test, turn your headlights on and if the gauges tank, try turning the dimmer rheostat all the way down. See if they come back up.

 

[Jimmy Gilbert]

I wiggled the harness on the back of the instrument cluster and they come back on.

 

[75gmck25]

The first ground to check is the instrument panel ground up under the dash. On your truck I think it is a black wire coming out of the big instrument panel plug, connected to a grounding bar. On older trucks the ground was connected to a post on the emergency brake bracket.

Based on your description, the panel ground wire may be off. When you turn on the headlights, the panel finds a path to ground through the light switch.

Bruce