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In this Discussion
- 66patrick66 August 2009
- bbyeater August 2010
- Jon B November 2009
- jxnslotcar August 2010
- Oldcar_Mechanic August 2010
- snowmaninwhite August 2010
no dash lights...???
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i have a 60 chrysler, and when i pull out the headlight switch, the gauge lights dont turn on... i even tried twisting the knob to see if that worked, but they didnt even flicker at all... any suggestion to look first??? i dont think theres a fuse for those lights, so im kinda stumped on this
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Is there a seperate switch for the instrument lights?
Some had a dimmer switch seperate from the headlight switch.
Ron -
no, its just the one switch, half out, dash and parking lights, all the way, headlights... they did work, but only in one spot, but now the gauge cluster wont turn on at all, i think its czu the car has been sitting for about a year and a half...
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I would think that it's time to pull the headlight switch down and check the wires in and out. You may just have bad contacs and can clean them with a little electronic cleaner.
Ron -
i will try to get it out... and ill post my findings
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i dont think i can get the switch out without takin apart the dash, and i dont really want to do that much work... and i swear i posted something last night but i guess my computer hates me czu appearently i never did... but any way... any kind of suggestions would be useful
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Wait on that switch! The 1960 Chryslers have what is called electroluminescent dash lighting. There is a high-voltage transformer in the dash that controls the lighting. If you have NO lighting at all, this is the culprit, and not the headlight switch. Hold on to your wallet! These transformers are over a thousand bucks, when you can find them. The '66 and '67 Dodge Chargers have the same exact thing.
Read a brief description here:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://automotivemileposts.com/files/imp1960panelescent.jpg&imgrefurl=http://automotivemileposts.com/imperial1960panelescent.html&usg=__pV7AZkwkqDJUIcgZmo9p4z4w1oY=&h=254&w=378&sz=29&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=amo4oQJbkXPA4M:&tbnh=82&tbnw=122&prev=/images%3Fq%3D1960%2Bchrysler%2Belectroluminescent%2Blighting%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG"The time has come", the Walrus said, "to speak of many things. Of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings. And why the sea is boiling hot,
And whether pigs have wings..." -
wow!!! im glad i didnt pull the switch... ill have to try and locate the converter thing on my car and look at it... i have a car manual from 1962 and it says somewhere that theres a wire under the dash acting as a ground for the lights... ill have to look at that also... it just sux that i cant drive my car after dark... all thanks to no dash lights at all, i cant even see the shifter buttons... ill see what i can do, hopefully without having to buy one of those
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i recently found a place where they can rebuild the unit for 75 bucks... or if i was really daring enough, which im not, i could rebuild it myself, but im not going to... im just gonna ship mine out and get it rebuild professionally... and for good measure, im including the site here
http://www.jcauto.com/index.html -
snowmaninwhite wrote:no dash lights at all, i cant even see the shifter buttons...
The "linked" writeup on the Imperial page says: "Generally everything in the instrument panel was lit this way with the exception of the high-beam indicator, turn indicators, TorqueFlight and heater/air conditioner control pushbuttons, and the parking brake warning lamp."
You said you can't see the shifter buttons (Torqueflight control pushbuttons?). If so, the problem may lie elsewhere, beyond the $1,000 transformer. Maybe it all comes down to a dirty or burned contact in the switch. The contact that sends power to the various dash light bulbs and the electroluminescent transformer. -
I agree Jon.
I think all avenues need to be explored with something that expensive before diviing in. Most of the time, simple checks can at least get you the to the right place that needs repair. Me being the cheap-skate that I am, I like to be sure before I spend my money that I don't have.
snowman, please keep us updated.
Ron -
im also a cheap skate, but thats czu im currently unemployed... but 75 bucks to get it professionally rebuild doesnt sound all that bad to me
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im seriously getting annoyed at my problem... i havent been able to do much work on it and i think ppl forgot about this post... but i really could use some help getting my dash lights working again... does anyone here have any kind of idea how the lights work on the old chryslers?? if so help a kid in need!!!
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i had the same issues....mine was on a tbird but, check your dimmer switch, and the dimmer switch plug. as well as any grounds, and fuses even if you dont think there is a fuse for the lights on my tbird there was, just take a test light to your fuse box and see if all of them are working right.
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i was gonna work on gettin the switch out and looking at it.
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it was a bad connection inside the switch, stupid corrosion... all fixed!!!
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snowmaninwhite wrote:it was a bad connection inside the switch, stupid corrosion... all fixed!!!
always is the stupid little things -
yes it is, but at least it was a fix that didnt cost anything.
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Oldcar_Mechanic wrote:I would think that it's time to pull the headlight switch down and check the wires in and out. You may just have bad contacs and can clean them with a little electronic cleaner.
Ron
I'd have to agree with this as well. If that is OK,then start tracing wire out of the switch towards the cluster until you have no power,either a chafed wired or poor connection. I use a Power Probe III which is a great tool when dealing with anything electrical. -
the problem was the headlight switch, its fixed... no bad wires, just bad connection!!!
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Glad to see you got it fixed.
Far to many times people go to the difficult intsead of starting with the basics and most simple.
Ron -
snowmaninwhite wrote:the problem was the headlight switch, its fixed... no bad wires, just bad connection!!!
Sorry man,I should have read through the whole thread before posting up a suggestion. I am glad you were able to fix it without going through all of that.
I know when I find a fix for a problem like you have-it is a really cool feeling and a certain amount of satisfaction.
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i know what you mean, makes me glad im able to fix my own car instead of paying someone big bucks to do it for me...
