Author Topic: Dash lights don't work  (Read 2959 times)

Offline money pit

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Dash lights don't work
« on: January 30, 2016 - 06:54:36 PM »
On my 73 Challenger, the dash lights don't work. I looked under the dash and found a connector that melted.  The connector has two black wires that connect to two pink wires. The two orange wires next to the black wires, I have no idea what they connect to. I know the orange wires go to the dash lights. If I put 12 volts to the orange wires the lights work. I can't find the wires that connect to these orange wires. I look all under the dash but couldn't find any wires that were cut or melted. Anyone know what color wires connect to the orange wires?  Sorry I'm having problems attaching a photo. Thanks




Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: Dash lights don't work
« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2016 - 07:55:40 PM »
all of the dash light wiring from the dimmer switch is orange  start at the dimmer switch & make sure you have power there & the 5 amp light fuse in the fuse block

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Offline 1 Wild R/T

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Re: Dash lights don't work
« Reply #2 on: January 30, 2016 - 09:55:13 PM »
all of the dash light wiring from the dimmer switch is orange  start at the dimmer switch & make sure you have power there & the 5 amp light fuse in the fuse block

And realize the 5 amp fuse is only powered when the parking lights or headlights are on..
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Offline money pit

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Re: Dash lights don't work
« Reply #3 on: January 30, 2016 - 10:25:16 PM »
The fuse is in place and is good. I don't know what caused the connector to melt. I'll trace the wires from the dimmer switch. Like I mentioned, I can't find any trace of the wire that goes to the orange wires. Thanks

Offline roadman5312

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Re: Dash lights don't work
« Reply #4 on: September 27, 2016 - 05:40:55 PM »
all of the dash light wiring from the dimmer switch is orange  start at the dimmer switch & make sure you have power there & the 5 amp light fuse in the fuse block

                      Well, interesting as I'm troubleshooting the same problem. Anyway there are no orange wires coming off the dimmer switch. Whats confusing to me is there are wires that run to the door switches, to the headlight timer, etc. The dimmer sends power from the headlight switch to the dash light fuse which then sends power out to the dash lights thru the orange wire. All this I comprede, what I can't wrap my head around is the link to the door switches(dome light ), and how to bypass the dimmer so that dash lights are always on with parking/headlights. Studied the wiring diagram today, and just can't figure it out. 

Offline 73_Cuda_4_Me

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Re: Dash lights don't work
« Reply #5 on: September 27, 2016 - 08:42:59 PM »
The schematic shows there should be a black wire and a black/yellow on one dimmer connector pin (black comes from light switch and also feeds rear markers, black/yellow feeds front markers and park lights), and 2 yellow wires on opposite side of connector (yellows are 'floating ground' wires-at 12 volts until grounded- going to door switches that do final grounding when door opens, OR if dimmer switch turned to light dome lamp, the switch itself grounds the yellows, turning on dome lamp.)

There should also be a TAN wire on middle dimmer connector going to a fuse in the fuse panel. An orange wire comes out of other side of this fuse going to radio, ashtray, and instrument lights.

To bypass dimmer switch,  run/splice jumper wire from black wire on dimmer switch to orange on radio, ashtray or instrument lamps. That will turn instrument lights on when lights are turned on
« Last Edit: September 27, 2016 - 08:54:03 PM by 73_Cuda_4_Me »
1973 Plymouth Cuda BS23H3B567783

R11 V6X EN2
M21 M25 M31 M88 N41 N42
V1X U B41 C56 G37 J54
JY9 A6X9 0 703 501616
E55 D34 BS23 H3B 567783