Dash Lights

[Mike H]

I just bought a '91 Sovereign and have a problem with the dash board lights. These are not the warning lights, but the illumination for the gauges that are supposed to go on with the headlights. They do not work properly. They are on all they time. To turn them off, the previous owner disconnected the gray connector coming off the dimmer control. To turn them on, I have to reconnect it. Once on, the lights do not dim when the rheostat is turned, but the lights for the climate control work properly. Any ideas?

 

[Michael J.]

I would start by removing the reostat that dims the lights and cleaning it with tuner cleaner aerosol available at Radio Shack. It sounds as if the internal switch in the reostat is stuck/corroded in place. The Reostat may have to be replaced if there is a lot of corrosion. The hardest problem you will have is getting the knob off so that you can remove the reostat. There is a hole in the knob shaft and a spring loaded pin that snaps into the hole when the knob is inserted over the shaft. You will need to push the pin in and slide the knob off the shaft. It sounds easier than it is.