The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Instrument cluster light question

I'm trying to figure out why the light for my instrument cluster doesn't work. I replaced the bulb, it wasn't connected to the back of the instrument cluster it is just dangling loose under the dash. I assume this light should come on when I turn on the headlights. It's difficult to trace exactly where the wire goes to. It is taped together with a wire that goes to an improvised horn button mounted on the side of the steering column. There's at least a full roll of electrical tape up in there. It then seems like it may go over to the headlight switch, but somewhere along the way I think the wire was added on to with a different color wire because I don't see the gray wire from the bulb end coming out of all the wires that are taped together. Everything else headlights, tail lights, dome light, signals and horn work fine. Can anyone give me a suggestion as to how to troubleshoot this problem. Or tell me how the instrument light should be connected if I just need to re-wire it. In case you can't tell I am electrically challenged. Any help would be very appreciated. Thanks - Al

the light grounds to the housing and then it should light.

Papa is right, it has to be grounded. Accually there are 3 inst. lights in that dash. They use a light grey wire. There are bulbs for the turn indicators, one light blue & one dark blue. There is a high beam ind. light also but i don't recall the color. The grey wire goes to a reostat on the light switch that you turn to brighten or dim it.

I had the same exact problem with the Blue Funk, Al. Everything EXCEPT the instrument lights worked.

Having more money than sense, I went ahead and replaced the headlight switch. The old one was pretty tired-looking anyway.

You can order a replacement switch for about $25 from Classic.

Or- you might just try removing the headlight switch and cleaning up the connections. If nothing else, it'll give you some experience fiddling around with the electrical system.

In the past, I've avoided fixing things because I've broken things more than they were already broke.

So from one novice to another, it's a little difficult to break a headlight switch. Especially one that's already broken. Or not.

Good luck to you, Al.