well now that i have four bad dimmer switches, i was thinkin of takin a chance an fixin them.... there looks like just a resistor that keeps blowing on them. Anybody know how to take em apart??? im thinkin of just busted the rivets out. But back to my blowning dimmer switches. I put a good one in, works for about an hour then the instrument panel lights flicker an shut off.... None of this happened till i hooked up the light for my fuel pressure guage, an someone said that i may have disturbed something that was on its way out. Any suggestions???
blew another (%(*## dimmer switch.... anybody know the anatomy of these??
- Thread starter noslow5_0
- Start date
i would trace the light wire for the FP gauge. or disconnect it and see if you can keep the dimmer working. you might have a short, which is frying the dimmer.
often, the illumination wire for the stereo (if equipped) is not used and touches metal. cig lighter lighting can do it too....but since it started after your gauge install, that is where i would look.
good luck.
often, the illumination wire for the stereo (if equipped) is not used and touches metal. cig lighter lighting can do it too....but since it started after your gauge install, that is where i would look.
good luck.
well after i did it the first time, i un hooked the f.p. guage light, an got another dimmer switch... that one lasted about an hour, then as im about to pull out of the driveway it went out... on to the third one. Just like the second one worked great for awhile... went to go to the parts store an no instrument lights came on. On to the fourth, which worked fine till i went to leave the guys house whos paintin my car.... so i came home all pissed off an what not.... crawled under the dash to test the fuses an they all checked out... just went again for a second look, an sure enough i dont know how i missed it, but a blown fuse.... replaced it, an dimmer's workin great at the moment... i dont want to use it too much though, cause ive gotten to the point where im tired off messing with it... next im just gonna pull the dash out an look for any fraid wire....
when you pulled the wire for the FP gauge light, did you disconnect it at the gauge, or where you tapped power (i.e. the hdlt switch connector or fuse 13).....? if the former, the wire could have a chafed spot and short. im sure you thought of that, but thought i would toss it out. when i get sick of something, i tend to forget simple ideas.
you could just rewire the dimmer circuit and ditch it.
i have no other ideas...good luck.
you could just rewire the dimmer circuit and ditch it.
i have no other ideas...good luck.
The innards of the dimmer switch are a wire wound coiled resistor element and a wiper that makes contact with the coiled resistor element. Not much of anything to repair.
The dimmer is burning up because there is too much current flowing through it. You have probably figured that out by now, so it is definitely time to look for reasons why it is pulling too much current.
The dimmer is burning up because there is too much current flowing through it. You have probably figured that out by now, so it is definitely time to look for reasons why it is pulling too much current.
trbkrb
Founding Member
A word of caution. On my car, if the dimmer is acting up and the dash lights are out, as it does when adjusted right before the click to turn on the dome light unless I wiggle it, the tail lights go out also. A cop let me know about that problem!
Good luck tracing the problem.
Good luck tracing the problem.
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