dimmer switch?

i have a 97 lumina, the dash, ash tray and heater control lights are out. radio ,interior lights work.. i have checked all fusses . could the dimmer switch cause this? any help..

The bulbs are probably blown. This is fairly common on an "older" vehicle. If the miles are high, then I'd say that's more than likely your problem. It seems like they all tend to go out at once. Replacing the instrument panel lights should be fairly easy. Remove dash cover and it should be self explanatory from there. As far as the heater controls, those may be a little more difficult to replace. The bulbs in my '93 lumina did the same thing. I took the heater control box apart and found that it would be quite difficult to replace the bulbs and get that thing back together properly. I also looked up the replacement bulbs in the owners manual, but couldn't find any place that carried them. I didn't check Radio Shack, so you might try that if you want to mess with trying to replace them. I saved my energy and just got used controls in the junkyard (around $10) and it's worked fine ever since. You run a risk in getting junkyard parts, but the cost is considerably less than purchasing a new one. If/when you replace the box, be sure to put all the wires back in the proper place. Good Luck!

Yes, a failed dimmer control could cause that.

Yes, a failed dimmer control could cause that.
how would i check the dimmer switch? iv got the dash out now and all the bulbs look good(filiments not broken.. hooked a test light to the circut board and cant find any power .. i got a hunch its in the dimmer switch but how do i test it.. fuse box under hood drivers side checks good no corrotion or wire breaks..any idea to check dimmer.. thanks

See if you have 12v into the switch, if ok jump across the terminals and if the dash lites come on, replace the dimmer, they were problematic on that car to begin with. There is now way without a major voltage surge when the lites were on that all the bulbs burnt out, as was mentioned.

OK, I was wrong. BUT!... I still stand by my statement that it seems like all the bulbs tend to go out at once!

I have one question: What is the ash tray light?? I don't have any lights down there except the ones on my [floor mounted] gear shift.

See if you have 12v into the switch, if ok jump across the terminals and if the dash lites come on, replace the dimmer, they were problematic on that car to begin with. There is now way without a major voltage surge when the lites were on that all the bulbs burnt out, as was mentioned.
maxwedge.. thanks for the reply.. this thimg is giving me the blues.. i got the dash off (front) the bulbs in the speedometer look good. the dimmer switch when tured dimms the radio lights and turns on the dome lite. the switch must come off from the back, i cant see anything looking at it from the front to get it out.. i used a test light thru the front of the switch and there is power to lite the test lite. how do i get this switch out? to get to where it plugs in? also when i put the test lite on the circut board of the speedometer theres no power.. thanks

Check this link to get at the dimmer/h'lite switch. http://autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?ForwardPage=/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/0e/d9/4f/0900823d800ed94f.jsp

OK, I was wrong. BUT!... I still stand by my statement that it seems like all the bulbs tend to go out at once!

I have one question: What is the ash tray light?? I don't have any lights down there except the ones on my [floor mounted] gear shift.

ya i have a 97 and there is a little light around where the ashtray is that lights up when you have the dash lights on. its not very light and somewhat useless but its there. not in the ashtray but beside it. i think its attached to the lower dash panel around there actuly.

also you said that you have a floor shift, i dident know they made floor shifts in the secound gen luminas. ive never seen one.

Only in the 98-99 LTZ's I believe.

Check this link to get at the dimmer/h'lite switch. http://autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?ForwardPage=/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/0e/d9/4f/0900823d800ed94f.jsp
maxwedge.. thats a good link, i didnt think auto zone had that.. i removed the small vent on the top of the dash, so i could look at the switch connector, i still cant see where it clips in.. i do have the change oil soon lite and other lites . but thats all. i got to get the switch out.. thanks

My '96 Lumi is about as plain as you can find. It has no power windows, no power seats, no ABS, no remote entry, manual mirrors, not much of anything, but it does have a light in the ash tray.

The radio lighting (including the digital display) should also be tied to the dimmer control. If the clock/radio display goes out, it's almost certainly the dimmer control.

My '96 Lumi is about as plain as you can find. It has no power windows, no power seats, no ABS, no remote entry, manual mirrors, not much of anything, but it does have a light in the ash tray.

The radio lighting (including the digital display) should also be tied to the dimmer control. If the clock/radio display goes out, it's almost certainly the dimmer control.
blue bowtie, maxwedge, and the rest of you guys THANK YOU for your help.. i got the switch out, all the contacts where the dimmer turns was varnished up, i took qtips and alcohol and cleaned it put it back in works like new.. thank again...

My '96 Lumi is about as plain as you can find. Granny Blue. It has no power windows, no power seats, no ABS, no remote entry, manual mirrors, not much of anything, but it does have a light in the ash tray.

The radio lighting (including the digital display) should also be tied to the dimmer control. If the clock/radio display goes out, it's almost certainly the dimmer control.

Blue, check it out, the 96 Lumina had abs std didn't it?

Only in the 98-99 LTZ's I believe.

I've seen some LS's in the junkyard with the floor shifter. Could be flukes though. They say that LTZ's come with floor shifters, but I've seen some in [LTZ's] that are on the column. What's up with that?? It's like they randomly change things..I don't know...I'm just rambling now!

...also you said that you have a floor shift, i dident know they made floor shifts in the secound gen luminas. ive never seen one.

Here's my LTZ...floor shifter/console

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/501/455507100_2065.JPG