The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Little Red Light on Speedo

I finally got my 53 road legal. When I was driving home tonight, a wee little red light between the 40 and 50 mark went on. I have never noticed it before, but I have never driven it far before. Is this a warning light of some sort? What does it mean? Thanks!

The only red light (or yellow) that I've seen on the speedo is the high beam idicator light. Step on your dimmer switch and see if it goes off.

The little red light is probably the headlight high beam indicator. Push on the switch on the floor and see if the red light goes out.

haha you guys are great! That didn't even cross my mind. Thanks!

Make sure you test the dimmer switch while parked. Sometimes those old switches are so little used that only one side (dim or bright) will work. Stepping on the switch while driving along might just take all of your headlights out rather than switching them.

I've never seen a speedo with any kind of light on it but I'm not into wearing that type of thing...

Rsg2506 When I wore my speedo I went so fast that I didn't need no stinking brake light! LOL

On the chevy trucks it's at the bottom of the gauge. The bulb socket can pop out from the back side to get a replacement bulb.

Ah ha! Windy, I've had that problem periodically... as I'm driving and hit the dimmer my lights go out but if I hit it another couple times they come back on... so you say it's a worn switch?? What're my options?

I'd say replace the dimmer switch.

Options, drive with lights on low, or
Rich'sToys has the answer, replace the switch.

I wouldn't say the switch is worn, possibly the terminals are just corroded over. Working the switch 50 times a day for awhile might break through the corrosion and cause it to work nicely----on the other hand why take a chance on safety?

Thanks guys! But is there a way to replace the back lights on the guages? Now both of the back lights dont work. Or is there something else I should check that wears out or comes loose on the back of the guage? Thanks!

The back lights just clip into the gauge housings.

The bulbs are held in place by wimpy little push clips. They might have just pulled out of the sockets. This does make them easy to change though. Might want to bend the little clips a little for a tighter fit.

Mine was to bad that it would make the lights flicker and go out all the time. I unscrewed the switch from the floor and took a little bit of scotchbright pad and a tweezers and cleaned the terminals up real good. Then I did the same to the wiring connector. When I was satisfied that it was clean enough, I bent the contacts a bit to make sure they would get a good tight connection and now my lights are rock solid on high or low beam.

Thanks for the info Brad!

If the guage lights are giving you trouble, have you checked the headlight switch? I seem to recall they could adjust the brightness/dimness of the gauge lights by twisting it.

I also seem to recall they seldom worked well or for long.