cobravenom302

I got a 95 GT and the gauge lights stopped working!

Fuses are ok, clock light works and radio illuminations are bright they will not dim.

could there be a problem with the dimming switch not alowing power to go to the gauges, if so why would the clock and radio stay bright , they dim as the gauges dim???????????

any one else have this happen to them ??

e40water

maybe the bulb burnt out on the gauge panel, You gotta remove the front cluster were youre speedo is to get at the bulbs behind the dash.

cobravenom302

Ya but i doubt that all the bulbs would burn out at the same time.

If the clock and the radio get the 12v source separate from the gauges i can see that they wouldnt be affected, what i dont get is that the clock and the radio does not dim, and stays bright why wouldnt the gauges remain on? Is it posible its just a headlight switch? If the headlight switch failed in the dim mode causing the gauge lights to stop working why wouldnt the clock and the radio be dim as well??

roundman

try moving the dimmer control back and forth several times from each end of the control and see what this does if anything. sometimes corrosion forms on the resistor coil and you don't get good electrical contact. check to see if you have 12 volts coming to the switch when the headlight switch is on. if you don't, then trace the hot wire back to the headlight switch and see if it is broken or loose. if you do have 12 volts at the switch, do the lights come on when you turn the switch all the way to full on? if they do, then the resistor part of the switch is bad so replace the switch. if they don't come on, then try bypassing the switch and see if this makes them work. if this does, then replace the switch.

cobravenom302

I pulled the headlight switch in and out very fast last night and the gauge lights went on! so im assuming that the contacts in the switch are worn or dirty? is there a way to clean them or should i probably buy a new switch which isnt a big deal its only 25 bucks or so and pops out in a couple minutes.

Is that resistor coil in the switch itself or somewhere else?

thanks for the advice

roundman

Not sure on the 95 model, on my 88 the dimmer control for the instrument panel lights is a separate dial control from the headlight switch. the coil will be on the switch either way. you might be able to get some electrical contact cleaner from Radio Shack and try using it to clean the switch if you can get to it to spray some in it. move the switch back and forth after you spray it to help loosen up the crud . it wouldn't hurt to try this before you spend the money for a new one.

cobravenom302

Thanks i will try that.

e40water

Yes the carbon connections to get dust in them, I had the same trouble with my head light switch, I just got some of the compressed air in a can to fix the problem. If that doesnt work, I would just replace the switch.

Good Luck