cluster lighting
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2010
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cluster lighting
hey guys i have a problem i'm hoping you guys can help me out with. so last night i'm looking at my batt. and fuel gauge and all those and i make a turn not even noticing that my lights went out on the cluster. so i get home and start playing with the light **** and noticed that they come back on when i turn the light/dimmer **** all the way to the left right on the verge of turning on the lights on the inside(the head lamp and the other interior lights) i'm gonna go check it out in the day to see if it is some wiring or anything simple but any help would be awesome thanks.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,182
Likes: 12
From: Gateway to the West
The dimmer in the main light switch is failing... best bet is to just replace the main light switch. Oh you can try cleaning the dimmer coil in the switch but given the age (assuming it is original 1992 equipment) you are probably better off just replacing the whole switch assembly. The coil has most likely broken or worn so thin at some point along its length that the connection is no longer being made when the **** is dialed down. The dimming is achieved by a mechanical brush that slides along the coil and over time the coil just wears thin and the continuity is broken.
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Junior User
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yes it is the original equipment, alright thanks a lot i will see if i can get that by today or tomorrow and throw that in. but if i cant get that in soon will it affect anything else if i don't replace it. or will it ruin any other wires or connections or anything to that affect? thanks
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2010
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so i put the new head light switch in and it works, thanks for the help. although after i installed it i didnt really drive at all and check so bout 6ish i went down to a local store with just one click on the lights(the running lights) and about 10 min i started seeing smoke come up from a vent right above the light switch i shut the lights off and the smoke was gone so did i not put the connector in correctly or what could it be. help please haha thanks
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,182
Likes: 12
From: Gateway to the West
I would suggest removing the new switch again and have a look at the connector in the harness. It could be that the terminals overheated at sometime during the lifespan of the previous headlight switch and the terminals in the harness connector are now loose causing arcing between them and the terminals in the new switch.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2009
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From: Tobyhanma, PA
From the sounds of it easiest and quickest don't seem to be the way to handle that issue. Im no electrical expert but if all the wires are there just slipping around in the connector maybe get some liquid electrical tape and put around the back of the connector. That should hold wire in place, but if they're arcing some other way im not sure
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2010
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alright yea by quickest and easiest i meant to to the point were i didn't have to unwire all the wires and track everyone down then replace them just something that i can unhook it and do what ya said with the liquid tape thats more up my alley haha(not exactly an electrical guy myself) yea it wont happen till tomorrow but hey thanks for the tip
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2010
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alright maybe it will happen tonight i just ran over to kragen and picked some liquid tape up and have put 3 coats on so far im gonna let it sit for a while probably over night but hopefully it will work
