dash illumination (DRL)

[brakus8]

I have a 1995 Monte Carlo Z34 and the lights for my guages, HVAC controls and shifter do not come on when the daytime running lights (DRL) are in night mode. The bulbs and fuses are perfectly fine. Everything that is supposed to work in "day mode" including the rear defrost light which does not work when in "night mode". Everything else works perfectly in the car, i have taillights, headlights, courtesy lights and so forth. My best guess is that the problem lies in the dimmer switch since i had the DRL control open and could cleary see that the 2 switches closed and hold which makes the dash lights go on. I can make the lights that don't work flick on for a split second by switching the headlight control switch from off too the next position. Any help would be appreciated, thank you.

[sierra77]

did you ever find a fix for this? I have a '96 Monte and have the same problem. Can't be a fuse, cause if it was a fuse, they would NEVER come on.
Has to be a loose connection or a bad switch.

[alm082180]

Originally Posted by sierra77

did you ever find a fix for this? I have a '96 Monte and have the same problem. Can't be a fuse, cause if it was a fuse, they would NEVER come on.
Has to be a loose connection or a bad switch.

Well I have a 96 with the same problem, ordered a new switch put it in and still same problem, Think theres a loose connection behind the dash, I've done and checked everything eslse and this is the last thing it could be, either that or a short. If anyone finds it first please let me know!!

[sierra77]

Okay, Fellas, I've got MY problem isolated. I tore the front of the dash off and pulled out the headlight/dimmer switch. i started testing the wires with a contiunity tester (test light). i found the two wires that run the instrument lights (guages, heater controls, shifter, door locks, etc.) The radio has a separate wire. These two wires were I believe the Grey with black stripe (radio), and the brown with white stripe(all other dash lights). They both made the test light dim and go out...just like the dash lights did. So, this is what I did. I found the wire that feeds the parking lights...you know, the first position on the headlight switch. and i snipped the two instrument wires and spliced them into this BROWN wire......whalla! The dash lights work now......i obviously can not use the dimmer to run them, but however, this tells me that there IS NO SHORT in the instrument panel circuit. It is definitely a bad headlight switch in my car. This little fix did NOT affect the ability to turn the dome light on by turning the dimmer dial all the way to the top.....That still works......Now, I have even further proof that my switch is bad. This is funny actually.......The only instrument light that isn't being powered off of the Parking lights now, is the ACTUAL headlight switch......that has the little symbols that light up on it too....and you know what it does? it flickers.....just like the rest of the lights did. Except for now, the rest of my lights work fine. These switches are around $80 at a dealer, however I've seen them for around $50 online. I fixed the problem for around $.00 with a few wiring connectors that were in my toolbox. All it took me was a little time and patience......What I made sure I did though, is snip those wires as far away from the harness as I could.....and I put connectors on those snipped ends......just in case I would ever want to replace the switch, then I could just hook the wires back up the way they are normally.......I doubt i'll ever replace the switch though, i never use the dimmer anyways.....Definitely not for $50. I really hope this helps you guys. Good Luck!

[corning_d3]

Is there a circut breaker for the dash lights inside the switch, or anywhere else for that matter?

[sierra77]

I have no idea if there is a circuit breaker in there or not. If I would have to guess, I would say taht the dimmer dial, is basically a rheostat, like any dial knob from a dimmer on your ceiling fan at home to the control knob on your girlfriend's vibrator...... Any switch where teh power increases the more you turn it.....the contacts are bound to get dirty and corroded i would assume. Probably more so in a 12V system than in a 120v in your house due to the corrosive nature of batteries......Other than that I don't know. All I know is that the fix that I came up with works great.....And I'm not gonna spend $50-$80 and have the same problem that ALM082180 had when he installed his brand new switch.

[alm082180]

Originally Posted by corning_d3

Is there a circut breaker for the dash lights inside the switch, or anywhere else for that matter?

No I don't believe there is any ciruit breaker for the dash lights in or outside of the switch. There is a fuse but I believe that fuse is also tied into your sidemaker lights as well. What do you guys think the odds are of that brand new ac delco switch that I bought being a bad switch as well. Every post I read of people with the same problem are saying that the problem was the swich.

Thanks