The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Dashboard Lights.

I have a '50 Chevy car and am in the process of restoration. I have no dashboard illumination even when the headlights are on. Are there fuses somewhere in the car? If not, can someone help me figure out how to get the lights back on? (Oh, the light in the glovebox does work)!

Johnboy,
welcome to the Stovebolt. You have come to the right place for lots of good information and stories about these old trucks.

On of the things that you will find very useful is the shop manual for your truck. All the major suppliers carry them. In that manual you will find a wiring diagram for your truck.

All your dash lights are fed from the headlight switch and it has a dimmer function which is adjusted by turning the knob. If you have no dashlights after pulling the switch to park or full headlights and adjusting the dimmer, one or more of the following could be the cause:

1) The headlight switch is defective.
2) There is a wiring problem.
3)All the bulbs are burned out.

Good luck in your troubleshooting and please let us know what you find.

I would fiddle with the headlight switch first, and then move onto the bulbs. If this doesn't help, then I would start looking for a short or a broken wire.

Johnboy,

If you get one of the testers shown in the link, life would be much easier under the dashboard.


http://www.napaonline.com/cgi-bin/n...43755&prmenbr=5806&usrcommgrpid=

Stuart

Johnboy,

I put in a link to a wiring diagram for your car. Go to Pep Boys, get the tester and git a testing!!


http://chevy.tocmp.com/chevywiring/diagrams/1950CAR.PDF


Stuart

check and see if your tail lights are burning, if there not work on that on these old vehicles if the tail ligthts aren't burning the dash lights wont work. Also twist the head light switch knob and see if they come on, if the tail lights burn.....Ronnie

I have the same problem relatively. 53 GMC, when I first got it on the road a few weeks ago, the dash lights worked the first night. Then they flickered and the speedo light went off. Then the next day, none of the speedo, 4piece big guage beside the speedo, and the ring around the ignition would not light up. I'm thinking it is the switch. Are the switches available from most of the suppliers? Thanks.

i have the same problem. i sprayed the bulbs with wd40 to make a good ground they still do this from time to time. i just twist them in their mounting holes to make a better ground. the rust gets to them on the back of the gauges. ron

I'm with Ron. The dash bulbs ground through the dash itself. You have to ensure that you're getting a good ground (been there, done that). If the seats are loose, they won't light. Clean everything up, replace the bulbs if necessary, and you should be good to go.

on my 61 truck i went under the dash and no joke removed about 30 feet or so of extraneous wiring. before i did this i had several problems. no dash lights, erratic turn signals, erratic fuse blowing, and c. after i did that all kinds of new things worked. i would suggest that you:

1) examine your wiring for hack jobs, and potential shorts
2) check the bulbs, just in case
3) the wires will lead you to a fusebox if you are dilligent, generally under the dash by the drivers feet

good luck, and good day.