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  • 1974 - 1978 Mustang II Talk & Tech

My turn for a dash light problem.

  • Thread starter Thread starter DarkFireGT
  • Start date Start date Sep 24, 2005

DarkFireGT

Playing with my wife's really makes me want one.
10 Year Member
May 23, 2004
692
10
89
East Moline, IL
Sep 24, 2005
#1
  • Sep 24, 2005
  • #1
My gauge lights are not working... As far as I know, they haven't since I started tinkering with the car. The domelight works, and so does the "high beam" light, so I know it's not a fuse, because I'm pretty sure the dome light is on the same fuse. The fasten seat belt light lights... just not the gauges. I just don't see how all those bulbs can be out, but every other bulb works perfectly fine. All the gauges work, they just have no lights.

And the heater doesn't work, either, but I think this is due to having aftermarket ac installed in california. I'm guessing they bypassed the whole factory control unit. None of the switches on it do anything, even the fan switch. The A/C controls seem to work though, and the heater core appears to be operating.

Other than those minor things, it's now driveable (during the day time until the dash lights work). Took it out to eat yesterday, drove great. Still contemplating a 302 for next year though... we'll see.
 
C

COBRAIIW

New Member
Apr 26, 2003
562
1
0
CT
Sep 24, 2005
#2
  • Sep 24, 2005
  • #2
Check your dash lights ground first.
Very common for lighting probs.
 
7

77sleeper

GO BUCS!
Founding Member
Oct 11, 1999
7,266
0
0
Napalm, AZ
Sep 24, 2005
#3
  • Sep 24, 2005
  • #3
many times the switch/dimmer is bad as well turn on the headlights rotate the switch to the center position and give it a couple taps on the top of the knob
 

Wart

I'm Mad as HELL and I'M not Gonna Take it ANYMORE!
Founding Member
Sep 1, 1998
408
3
58
NE Ohio
Sep 25, 2005
#4
  • Sep 25, 2005
  • #4
I feel the "how the hell do you get this )#*%& light switch knob out" question coming.
 

DarkFireGT

Playing with my wife's really makes me want one.
10 Year Member
May 23, 2004
692
10
89
East Moline, IL
Sep 25, 2005
#5
  • Sep 25, 2005
  • #5
Well tapping on it didn't do anything. Where is the ground located? Is it on the back of the cluster?

Also, I've got one wire in the engine bay I can't figure out where it goes. It's black with yellow dashes on it. Here's a pic. Anyone?
 

DarkFireGT

Playing with my wife's really makes me want one.
10 Year Member
May 23, 2004
692
10
89
East Moline, IL
Sep 25, 2005
#6
  • Sep 25, 2005
  • #6
I guess I'll be more specific, it comes out of the cluster of wires behind the fusebox.
 

76_Cobra_II

Member
Dec 27, 2003
194
0
17
Clayton, NC
Sep 25, 2005
#7
  • Sep 25, 2005
  • #7
MadMark said:
I feel the "how the hell do you get this )#*%& light switch knob out" question coming.
Click to expand...


I found an EASY way to do this. I posted it in a "HOW TO" post in another MII Forum. If ya need, I will copy and paste.
 

Wart

I'm Mad as HELL and I'M not Gonna Take it ANYMORE!
Founding Member
Sep 1, 1998
408
3
58
NE Ohio
Sep 26, 2005
#8
  • Sep 26, 2005
  • #8
Thanks, but not needed.

My hand remembers the way.
 
L

LXXVICOBRA

Founding Member
Jul 10, 1999
506
1
0
Central NY State
Sep 26, 2005
#9
  • Sep 26, 2005
  • #9
DarkFireGT said:
Also, I've got one wire in the engine bay I can't figure out where it goes. It's black with yellow dashes on it. Here's a pic. Anyone?
Click to expand...

I'm not certain, but I think that black/yellow wire might go to the underhood lamp.
Why it's located where it is on your car, I don't know. I don't see that plug/connection on my car (there)....but perhaps because mine is an 8cyl, it's routed differently? This B-Y wire runs from the starter relay to the underhood lamp on mine, which also coincides with the wiring diagram I have.
 

DarkFireGT

Playing with my wife's really makes me want one.
10 Year Member
May 23, 2004
692
10
89
East Moline, IL
Sep 26, 2005
#10
  • Sep 26, 2005
  • #10
hrmm... interesting. I'll have to take a look at that. Doesn't make much sense where it is, as you said...

Still no dash lights.. i guess it's time to pull the cluster and check it out. gonna be a long week waiting for a day off to do that.
 

78CobraII

Moderator
Jul 31, 1998
1,808
8
39
Birmingham, AL
Sep 27, 2005
#11
  • Sep 27, 2005
  • #11
DarkFireGT said:
hrmm... interesting. I'll have to take a look at that. Doesn't make much sense where it is, as you said...

Still no dash lights.. i guess it's time to pull the cluster and check it out. gonna be a long week waiting for a day off to do that.
Click to expand...



You will need those headlight switch removal instructions if you haven't already crossed that problem.

I hope that you don't find your instrument cluster has an advanced case of CCS (Crumbling Cluster Syndrome). This is where the rear cluster plastic is disentegrating from old age. The one from my '76 hatch literally crumbled into dust when I tried to remove it last year. It had shown problems around the light sockets as early as 1983. I had to build them back up with model cement so that the lights could make good contact with the mylar wiring strip.
 
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