Gauge cluster intermittently lighting up

[norm02]

Hey everyone,

I was driving home the other night and my gauge cluster decided to light up afor the first time in about 20 years. Needless to say, I was shocked and it light up after I pulled the headlight switch which I’ve done quite a few times.

For some reason it’s decided to stop lighting up so I’m guessing I’ve got a bad connection somewhere but I don’t know where to start looking. Any ideas on where to start and is there a common thing to look for?

 

[Readhead]

Head light switch ... the coil back is what controls the dim feature

 

[SHX669]

Turn the headlight switch knob most of the way to the left - just before it clicks and turns on the courtesy/map / ankle light ?
Also The gage cluster also has to be grounded - so - a loose ground wire ?

 

[norm02]

Turn the headlight switch knob all the way to the left ?
Also The gage cluster also has to be grounded - so - a loose ground wire ?

I tired that quite some time ago and the light isn’t dimmed.

 

[norm02]

Found this schematic so I’ll trace backwards and see if there’s a loose connection.
http://seabiscuit68.tripod.com/images/66-67ignition-color.gif

 

[englewoodcowboy]

Just replace the headlight switch. They wear out and loose contact to make your dash lights work. There is also a possibility you have a broken or loose wire at the connector since the dash lights are on their own circuit from the switch. Most likely it will be the switch though. 40+ years of corrosion etc. They are cheap and easy to replace.

 

[VB67bronco]

From the 2 amp fuse there is a Blue red striped wire which heads to the lighting switch... from the same fuse there is another blue red striped wire that goes to the instrument cluster and splits into 3 and feeds the 3 bulbs on the instrument cluster.. see schematic..wire 19a


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[DirtDonk]

Have you removed the fuse and put it back in? Sometimes just doing this on an old fuse panel (to all the fuses while you're at it) will help things make better contact.
I agree it sounds like the switch itself, but I would rule out other things as well.
And cleaning fuses is easy work and often nets you better workings.

Paul

 

[sykanr0ng]

Just replace the headlight switch. They wear out and loose contact to make your dash lights work. There is also a possibility you have a broken or loose wire at the connector since the dash lights are on their own circuit from the switch. Most likely it will be the switch though. 40+ years of corrosion etc. They are cheap and easy to replace.

But in recent years the cheap ones are often bad right out of the box, so it may be better to look for good rather than cheap.

 

[norm02]

Have you removed the fuse and put it back in? Sometimes just doing this on an old fuse panel (to all the fuses while you're at it) will help things make better contact.
I agree it sounds like the switch itself, but I would rule out other things as well.
And cleaning fuses is easy work and often nets you better workings.

Paul

I have not removed the fuse yet but will try that before looking into headlight switch replacements.