69 instrument lights no worky

[Patrick Grove]

Anyone with experience/knowledge trouble shooting the dash lights on a 1969? They were kinda dim, but always worked until recently. Gages still work fine. Fusses are fine. Plan to pull the dash soon to check connections. Any advice will be appreciated.

 

[Sheriff41]

Common issues are poor grounds, running halogen headlights without a dedicated relay, and a failing or dirty headlight switch. On the switch, make sure the dimmer rheostat and contacts are clean.

 

[giantpune]

My money is on the resistance wire coil on the front of the headlight switch. You can pull the switch out and bench test it with a multimeter and a 12v DC power supply.

You can also test by just putting a jumper wire with some clamps on the sweeper that wipes across that wire and clamp it to the hot on the far end of it. That should make your lights go full brightness.

 

[Patrick Grove]

Thanks! Sounds better than pulling the dash for starters, and likely to be the culprit too. Mucho apprciato. I'll let you know how I make out guys.

 

[midlife]

Ummm...you're going to have to pull the dash to access the headlight switch.
Also, check the contact points on the dash cluster connector.

 

[Patrick Grove]

Chuck, on the halogens, where do you put a new relay in if needed? I did install halogens about 10 years ago. Would you add it up by the core support?

 

[Sheriff41]

That's where I put the relays on my 70. I'll get a picture for you.

 

[Sheriff41]

Here ya go:

 

[Sheriff41]

Check with @TheRktmn https://www.rccinnovations.com/index.php?show=menu-hrk-all for a relay kit. Bob is a member on here.

 

[giantpune]

Ummm...you're going to have to pull the dash to access the headlight switch.
Also, check the contact points on the dash cluster connector.

I replaced mine without having to pull the dash.

 

[Patrick Grove]

Thanks for all of your help & suggestions. Factory manual says drop e brake pedal and push the secret button & out she comes! Been 40 years since I pulled one out. Think I'll get one of my grandkids to crawl in for this one. I kid. Never thought halogen bulbs could draw that much juice. I'll give an update with the results. Money well spent joining this forum instead of the school of hardnocks.
thanks again everyone

 

[Patrick Grove]

Relay kit looks slick. Did you install the Full relay kit or have a recommendation as to which kit worked for you?

 

[Sheriff41]

Relay kit looks slick. Did you install the Full relay kit or have a recommendation as to which kit worked for you?

I bought mine off of Amazon before I was aware of Rocketman's products. It's a full kit and no wires were cut. Easy to install. I just had to route the wire harness so it's tucked away nicely. I did get Rocketman's relay kit for the horns on my 72 Mustang; nice quality and workmanship on it.

 

[Patrick Grove]

The light switch looked o.k.,but cleaned it and reinstalled it. The switch immediately got so hot in seconds you couldn't touch it. Disconnected the battery quickly but not before the 4 amp fuse spit the bit. Hope to have a new switch this weekend and solve this problem. Tested the instrument panel lights and they all work. Harness looks good and hoping there's no shorting going on there. That would suck big time. Plan on buying those twin relays for the head lights anyway though. Oh, and the blue wire w/red tracer is what's in my harness for power too. I don't see any ground to the dash coming from the harness/conn. itself, but there are 2 black wires from the connector feeding into the harness. Thanks again for all the advice/help.