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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
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Guage lights go out when i turn my headlights on.

  • Thread starter Thread starter 89drop
  • Start date Start date Oct 19, 2010
8

89drop

New Member
Aug 30, 2009
175
2
0
Oct 19, 2010
#1
  • Oct 19, 2010
  • #1
ok, so i really dont drive my car at night, and have only put maybe 500 miles on it the past 3 years (thats pushing it!) so i just did an led guage light swap, and noticed that when my car is on, and i turn my headlights on that my guage lights go out. this is among a few other things that happen when i turn my lights on. the tach also goes all the way down, and my other indicators such as temp and oil pressure get wacky! gas guage doesnt work either, but i was leaning towards a bad sending unit on that one...maybe not now. any ideas anyone? im so bad when it comes to wiring...
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Oct 19, 2010
#2
  • Oct 19, 2010
  • #2
Do the lights and gauges function properly when just the parking lights are on?
 
8

89drop

New Member
Aug 30, 2009
175
2
0
Oct 19, 2010
#3
  • Oct 19, 2010
  • #3
HISSIN50 said:
Do the lights and gauges function properly when just the parking lights are on?
Click to expand...

no, even when just my parking lights are on and the key is on they dont work.if the key is off they come on...
 

93project

Active Member
Apr 21, 2009
549
52
38
El Paso, tx
Oct 19, 2010
#4
  • Oct 19, 2010
  • #4
You might have too much stuff on the same power feed, bad ground, etc. Where are you getting your power from for your lights? I get mine from behind the headlight switch. I attached a jumper wire from the parking light "hot" wire to the gauge cluster. It should have a fuse in line as well for safety, but placed where it's easily reachable
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Oct 19, 2010
#5
  • Oct 19, 2010
  • #5
Agreed with needing to know where you sourced gauge lighting from. Parking light circuit or instrument (dimmer) circuit?

Have you undone your new wiring to see if the lighting goes back to normal?
 
8

89drop

New Member
Aug 30, 2009
175
2
0
Oct 20, 2010
#6
  • Oct 20, 2010
  • #6
HISSIN50 said:
Agreed with needing to know where you sourced gauge lighting from. Parking light circuit or instrument (dimmer) circuit?

Have you undone your new wiring to see if the lighting goes back to normal?
Click to expand...

i didnt re wire anything, i just added the LED bulbs. but it looks as if the old owner did something...i guess i need to really look at it a little better to see what might have been changed. the bad thing is that i have never driven this car at night, so i didnt know this problem even existed...
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Oct 20, 2010
#7
  • Oct 20, 2010
  • #7
Ok, so you don't have aftermarket gauges - the LEDs were installed in the stock cluster, no?

In case it helps, this link is courtesy of Liljoe07:

http://www.stangnet.com/tech/cluster87-93.pdf
 

Stever89

5 Year Member
Dec 14, 2009
536
9
39
Biloxi, MS
Oct 20, 2010
#8
  • Oct 20, 2010
  • #8
Just a shot in the dark here, but that troublesome rheostat can make weird things happen. Work that dimmer back and forth about 20-30 times.
 
8

89drop

New Member
Aug 30, 2009
175
2
0
Oct 20, 2010
#9
  • Oct 20, 2010
  • #9
HISSIN50 said:
Ok, so you don't have aftermarket gauges - the LEDs were installed in the stock cluster, no?

In case it helps, this link is courtesy of Liljoe07:

http://www.stangnet.com/tech/cluster87-93.pdf
Click to expand...

yes, these is the stock cluster...just added the led's
 
8

89drop

New Member
Aug 30, 2009
175
2
0
Oct 20, 2010
#10
  • Oct 20, 2010
  • #10
Stever89 said:
Just a shot in the dark here, but that troublesome rheostat can make weird things happen. Work that dimmer back and forth about 20-30 times.
Click to expand...

i will try that tonight for sure! thanks for the responses everyone, hope to get this fixed, or i just wont drive at night still! lol
 
8

89drop

New Member
Aug 30, 2009
175
2
0
Oct 25, 2010
#11
  • Oct 25, 2010
  • #11
89drop said:
i will try that tonight for sure! thanks for the responses everyone, hope to get this fixed, or i just wont drive at night still! lol
Click to expand...

no go on that, they still act retarted... think its time to call florida50...
 
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