Instrument Panel won't Light

[cwestra]

Can't seem to get the instrument panel lights to come on in my '70 Cuda.  I have power to the light switch and through to the center terminal on the dimmer switch.  Yet no lights come on.  Many of the bulbs are new so it isn't that.  Any ideas on where to check next?  Anyone else have a similar problem?

[MEK-Dangerfield]

It's probably your dimmer switch, but make sure the light bar has a good connection to ground. You can't test them with the light bar removed.

[cwestra]

It's probably your dimmer switch, but make sure the light bar has a good connection to ground. You can't test them with the light bar removed.

I rebuilt and checked the dimmer and it's good.  Power is coming in the end connector and I get power out the middle one.  Getting resistance drop as expected when rotating dial.  I did have the light bar removed but shouldn't some of the other lights come on at least?

[73Chally]

The dome light should come on when you turn the dimmer switch all the way up until it clicks.  Other than that, the only other interior lights controlled by that switch are the dash lights.

[dodj]

I did have the light bar removed but shouldn't some of the other lights come on at least?

The light bar does need a decent ground.
There are no other lights, well there is one just above the heater controls. All the rest are indicators, ie high beam, left turn, right turn etc...

[Bullitt-]

Mine originally controlled light in the radio, console shift, & a bulb over the heater controls. 
   Check power in & out a the switch, after that it's just connections & wires.

[Moparal]

take a test light and ground it. Touch the point to the wire plug that the dash lights is used for. Quick n simple   If you got power to that wire, then the ground isnt right for the light panel.  Also remember that on your switch panel, once installed, you have one bottom screw that grounds to the dash frame

[cwestra]

Problem solved.  I checked continuity from the dimmer to the plug and that was fine.  Checking it from the dimmer to the metal frame of the light panel was not, though.

I noticed that my light panel had surface rust all over the upper surface of it.  Not deep, but since this surface isn't painted by the factory and the car sat for several years, a thin layer of corrosion built up.  I could get the lights to go on if I grounded the individual bulb after removing from the socket, but not when I installed them and grounded to the frame.  Even sanding a clean surface on the frame and grounding it wouldn't work.  I ended up having to sand very, thoroughly, the inside socket portion of the frame where each bulb fit in.  After that everything worked.

Thanks, everyone, for your help in this.  CC.com comes through again.

[UKcuda]

Have to say my money was on it being the dimmer switch.  Good job.

It always feels good to get to the bottom of these annoying little things.