Bugeye dash light problems

[ichthos]

Going through my yearly maintainence before I start driving again. My dash lights are suddenly not working. All my running and headlights work. The turn signals work, but all the instruments and an auxiliary cig lighter do not light up. I only have two fuses I can see in the engine bay. Any suggestions on what to check? Any help is greatly appreciated.
Kevin

 

[Gliderman8]

Did you use a continuity meter on the fuses? Sometimes they burn out under the cap; looking at them you may not see it.

 

[Rhodyspit75]

Take a look at the dash light switch first. Maybe it just got switched off. If not try switching it back and forth a few times. If that doesn’t work jump it out. Those light are not fused.

 

[smaceng]

Kevin, you really need to get a wiring diagram for your car.
Gilderman said to check the fuses, but the dash lights are unfused as delivered from the factory.
The dash lights should be red/white wires, and are powered by the round ignition/lighting switch in the center of the dash.
I would check to see if the switch under the dash....to the left of the steering column has been turned off. BEs do not use variable knob to vary the brightness of the dash bulbs, just the switch. If that does not work, check the red/white wires under the dash for a bad connection.
Good luck, Scott in CA

 

[Boink]

I agree that the dash light switch could be suspect. It's not a great switch. Jumper across it to be sure.

 

[SD Bugeye]

Sure sounds like that is the culprit instrument lights and for some reason the cigar lighter on my drawing all are powered thru the littl edge of the dash switch. All wires thru the switch are red with white tracer.

 

[Jim_Gruber]

You may not know you even have a dash light switch. Under the Center of the dash, bottom side, little slide switch. One side on, one side off. And you always wondered what that switch did.

 

[ichthos]

I completely for got about the switch. I don't even see the point of it. In any case, I did jump it and the lights worked, so it was the switch after all. Luckily I had an old spare. Thanks everyone.

 

[Boink]

I completely for got about the switch. I don't even see the point of it. In any case, I did jump it and the lights worked, so it was the switch after all. Luckily I had an old spare. Thanks everyone.

Well, there you go! It's really not a good quality switch, but good that you have a spare.

 

[nomad]

Be careful when replacing it. My DPO managed to make the wires touch the dash and let the smoke out!

Kurt