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TMTschaar · 03-15-2016, 12:44 PM

Hoping to find some help. I bought a 2000 CC Magna in October last year. I didn't notice during the pre-buyers inspection that the dash and gauge lights didn't work. Since the dash/gauge lights don't come on when the headlight switch is pulled I assume it must be a blown fuse. I have checked every fuse in the in the front WW electrical bay as well as gone through every page in the wiring diagrams but cannot find a fuse to the dash and/or gauge lights.
My next step is to pull the dash and see if I can see a wire number on one of the wires to the bulbs and try tracing it that way.

I would greatly appreciate any guidance someone may have to either where I can track down a fuse or something I am missing in my assumption.

Thanks in advance -

mel s · 03-15-2016, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMTschaar

Hoping to find some help. I bought a 2000 CC Magna in October last year. I didn't notice during the pre-buyers inspection that the dash and gauge lights didn't work. Since the dash/gauge lights don't come on when the headlight switch is pulled I assume it must be a blown fuse. I have checked every fuse in the in the front WW electrical bay as well as gone through every page in the wiring diagrams but cannot find a fuse to the dash and/or gauge lights.
My next step is to pull the dash and see if I can see a wire number on one of the wires to the bulbs and try tracing it that way.
I would greatly appreciate any guidance someone may have to either where I can track down a fuse or something I am missing in my assumption.
Thanks in advance -

TMTschaar
When you do pull the dash check the wires for 12V power with a multimeter

or a 12V test light

If they do have power you don't have a blown fuse.... you have a bad ground.
Mel
'96 Safari

phays · 03-15-2016, 05:36 PM

Check the wire list in your manual. My list shows a 16 gauge red wire #181 going from the headlight switch to the gauge lights. I assume when the headlight switch is turned on this wire goes hot with 12 volts. If that wire is hot then as stated earlier suspect a bad ground.

I believe that there is really only one ground to the lights. You can patch in a good ground wire to see if the lights come on.

waternut · 03-15-2016, 05:59 PM

Not positive but the headlight switch has a variable output built into it when you turn the knob and have seen these go bad before, Long shot but try turning it back and forth several hundred times, at night with the headlight on. if you see even a flicker keep rotating it and find a spot where they will stay on. Has worked for me several timed in older cars, just an idea. About the time you want to give up and say this isn't working dash light flicker. Dash is an easy pull, small phillips head 6 screws and it will have enough wiring to be pulled forward and tilt down to get to the wiring.

dons2346 · 03-15-2016, 10:26 PM

Have you turned up the dimmer rheostats?

TMTschaar · 03-16-2016, 12:35 PM

Thanks all for the replies.

Don, you asked if I turned up the dimmer rheostats (plural) - I am aware of the rheostat in the headlight switch - is there another one?

Pete, Thank you for the reference to the wire number that will help greatly.

Waternut and Mel, good suggestions thank you.

Unfortunately I had to take an unexpected business trip this week so will have to get to it this weekend.

Thom

dons2346 · 03-16-2016, 04:30 PM

Thom,
I have a rocker on/off switch for the headlights. My reference to the rheostats, one is for the dash gauges and the other is for the eyebrow over the dash.

Maybe your coach is different

TMTschaar · 03-16-2016, 04:39 PM

Ahh. Yes, I have the old 3-position pull switch (off, parking, headlights) that turns for the dimmer. I should have specified. But one thing I'm learning fast is that there are knobs, buttons, levers, etc., etc that I am still figuring out so thank you for your help.

Thom

TMTschaar · 03-19-2016, 01:04 PM

Waternut gets the cigar. I tried twisting the knob back and forth about 6 or 7 times and saw the lights flicker. Took a quick trip to Radio Shack and bought a can of tuner cleaner, cleaned the switch and I now have dash and gauge lights.

Thanks all for your help.

Thom