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Author Topic: No dash lights, tail lights or park lights  (Read 23007 times)

Offline dbrunner

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No dash lights, tail lights or park lights
« on: January 28, 2013, 10:17:10 pm »
I have a 79 K10 stepside my son and I just rebuilt. have everything done but now the instrument panel lights, taillights and park lights don't work. Headlights, brakes and turn signals all work. Checked fuses, ground on inst panel, replaced light switch and still can't make them work. If I jumper them at the switch conection they will come on. Does the switch itself need a ground? What else would cause this problem? Any help is appriciated. Son is 19 and we have been working on this truck for a year and he is anxious to drive it.

Dennis
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Offline Captkaos

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Re: No dash lights, tail lights or park lights
« Reply #1 on: January 29, 2013, 01:32:08 pm »
Is the cluster receiving power?
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Offline dbrunner

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Re: No dash lights, tail lights or park lights
« Reply #2 on: January 29, 2013, 03:41:52 pm »
Not from the light switch, everything else seems to work as far as the idiot lights and gauges. I still feel it is a ground issue but am lost. Everything that runs off of the light switch other than the head lights will not work.
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Offline bd

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Re: No dash lights, tail lights or park lights
« Reply #3 on: January 29, 2013, 03:59:35 pm »
Use a test light to check for power at the red wire and the orange wire(s) at the headlamp switch.  Tell us what you find.
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Rich
It's difficult to know just how much you don't know until you know it.
In other words... if people learn by making mistakes, by now I should know just about everything!!!
87 R10 Silverado Fleetside 355 MPFI 700R4 3.42 Locker (aka Rusty, aka Mater)

Offline dbrunner

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Re: No dash lights, tail lights or park lights
« Reply #4 on: January 29, 2013, 04:14:17 pm »
I will do that tonight and let you know - thanks
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Offline dbrunner

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Re: No dash lights, tail lights or park lights
« Reply #5 on: January 30, 2013, 12:14:39 pm »
red wire lights up, orange wires do not.
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Offline bd

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Re: No dash lights, tail lights or park lights
« Reply #6 on: January 30, 2013, 12:50:24 pm »
You have a blown Tail/Courtesy fuse or open in the wiring.  See Circuit 40A (orange) and Circuit 2G (red) connecting to the fuse box in cab schematic diagram.  Circuit 2G I believe merges with Ckt 2J and connects to battery through a fusible link at the starter (engine compartment schematic).

Probe for battery power at the "T/L CTSY" fuse in the fuse box.  If it's dead, trace the 12-gauge red '2J' wire through the bulkhead connector and engine compartment to its connection at the starter.  If you have power through the 'T/L CTSY' fuse, find the open in Ckt 40A between the fuse box and the headlamp switch.
« Last Edit: January 30, 2013, 03:32:09 pm by bd »
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Rich
It's difficult to know just how much you don't know until you know it.
In other words... if people learn by making mistakes, by now I should know just about everything!!!
87 R10 Silverado Fleetside 355 MPFI 700R4 3.42 Locker (aka Rusty, aka Mater)

Offline dbrunner

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Re: No dash lights, tail lights or park lights
« Reply #7 on: February 03, 2013, 04:44:41 pm »
Problem solved, thank you very much for your help. Orange wire was damaged, replaced a small section and everything works fine. Love the forum by the way, wish I would have found it when we started this project instead of when we were finishing it. Now all I have to do is haul the truck from Colorado to Dodge City Kansas for my kid and he will be a happy camper. He hasn't driven the truck since he has been in college for a year and a half, and I need to find another project cause I won't know what to do with myself on weekends now.
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Offline thirsty

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Re: No dash lights, tail lights or park lights
« Reply #8 on: February 03, 2013, 05:04:48 pm »
Quote from: dbrunner on February 03, 2013, 04:44:41 pm
I need to find another project cause I won't know what to do with myself on weekends now.
My vote is for another 73-87 this time for dad! ::)
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Offline dbrunner

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Re: No dash lights, tail lights or park lights
« Reply #9 on: February 04, 2013, 11:27:08 pm »
Good idea, I'm thinking a Blazer might be kind of fun. This was our first complete restore, amazing how much slower they go back together compaired to how it came apart. Was very happy how it turned out though. Wood bed was fun, we did a paint instead of a stain hoping it would last longer out in that Kansas sun. Went a black pearl metallic on the truck and black interior. Motor was solid, added electric choke to the 750 Edelbrock and new headers and that was about it under the hood. Anyway I hadn't worked on one that much since I was a kid and had my 68 Mustang, really enjoyed it.
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Offline bd

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Re: No dash lights, tail lights or park lights
« Reply #10 on: February 05, 2013, 09:30:15 am »
Dennis,
Post pics in Members Rides!   :)
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Rich
It's difficult to know just how much you don't know until you know it.
In other words... if people learn by making mistakes, by now I should know just about everything!!!
87 R10 Silverado Fleetside 355 MPFI 700R4 3.42 Locker (aka Rusty, aka Mater)

Offline dbrunner

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Re: No dash lights, tail lights or park lights
« Reply #11 on: February 06, 2013, 10:23:41 pm »
Posted a couple pics for you, hope i did it right.
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