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65 coupe
All else on dash works like turn signal indicator . Fuel gauge .. but no lights ...
Courtesy lights work also
The fuse for them seems ok..
Last edited by Gaba (7/11/2019 8:13 AM)
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Does the dimmer function on the headlight switch?
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TKOPerformance wrote:
Does the dimmer function on the headlight switch?
Generally it functions yes! i can "dim" it all the way down and turn off courtesy lights.. before this happened it used to work .. if that helps
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Ever time my instrument lights failed to work, it turned out to be a ground issue.
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rpm wrote:
Ever time my instrument lights failed to work, it turned out to be a ground issue.
Where or which ground did you have an issue with?
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Well, mine is a 69 and not anything like yours. I think I read that the vast majority of electrical problems are because of faulty grounds. Just saying...
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Not 100% sure about the '65 clusters, but in my '67 the dash lights ground to the metal backing plate of the cluster, which is in turn grounded.
But are you saying the dimmer now doesn't work?
When a light doesn't work there's only three possible causes. The bulb is bad (unlikely that all your bulbs are bad at the exact same time), not getting power, or not getting ground. Its possible the ground to the backing plate, if so equipped, failed and that's your issue. Its also possible something in the headlight switch, which feeds the lighting circuit, failed.
I would pull the cluster and test one of the sockets to see which you are not getting (ground or power).
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I believe your ground is ok on back of instrument cluster. The metal backing plate is ground for instruments and gauge lights. Therefore, I would look at connections that feed the lights (bullet connections) and the headlight switch. Although your courtesy lights work, the IIRC gauge lights are fed from a different tap on headlight switch. The tap for gauge lights may have bad connection or failed....sounds like a mechanical problem.😁
I have 5 gauge cluster on my ‘65. You didn’t mention if you had falcon style. Ground is ground, eh?
Last edited by Nos681 (7/13/2019 6:30 AM)
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I had a similar problem on my '66. The cluster lights were initially dim and finally went totally out. After restoring my cluster with new lamps and 5v regulator, I ensured that the grounds were good but the problem persisted. I ultimately found dead spots in the dimmer function on the switch. Without removing it, I sprayed it with electrical contact cleaner and repeatedly rotated the knob back and forth to clean the contact. Problem solved!
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Just keep in mind, the instrument 5v regulator is for your gauges only.
Instrument cluster lights are variable voltage via the dimmer switch and full brightness is 12 volts.
I would try rhutt’s suggestion too prior to replacing the switch.
Contact cleaner works on radio volume controls too...the old rotary volume controls.
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I didn't mean to imply that the regulator was part of the lighting circuit. It was just one of the electrical components that required replacement in the restoration. Sorry for the confusion!
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