78 DASH LIGHTS

J

Jeffsarasota

Member
. Dash lights were working. All of a sudden they are not and I don’t even know where to start. Any suggestions would be appreciated
 
Are your exterior lights working when you pull out the HLS knob? What about your turn signal or 4-way indicators in the dash when you turn those on? What happens when you rotate the HLS knob one way or the other as if to dim or brighten the dash lights?
 
Thank you Scoutboy. Things seem to be back to normalish. When I turn the knob all the way to the left the dash lights turn on. I don’t run a roof but I’m assuming this would be the spot where the interior lights will turn on and stay on. There is still no dimming function there either on or off. Headlights turn signals hazards etc. work as normal . Maybe I have a bad switch?
 
One other problem I forgot to mention. When headlights are turned on the green right side turn signal indicator on dash stays on solid. Turn signals still work fine but the indicator light stays on when headlights are on 😬.
 
Jeffsarasota said:
One other problem I forgot to mention. When headlights are turned on the green right side turn signal indicator on dash stays on solid. Turn signals still work fine but the indicator light stays on when headlights are on 😬.
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Either your front turn signal or rear tail light has a bad ground. See which one isn't lit up and start there by making sure the lights are well grounded to the body.
 
by the way:

for a IH Scout, what IS the best way to make sure that all lights are well grounded? Screws? Silicone? contact goop? Reason for asking, whenever I use the turn signal lever on the steering column (either left or right), my alt gauge and volt meter see some serious drop while the turn signal lights flash. Sorry to sound a bit dumb, but I would like some expert advice on this wiring issue.

Thanks.
 
Corrosion, grime, paint, loose fasteners, and bad terminations are the main impediments of good grounds. Addressing those to the best of your ability will prolong proper electrical system function. It will involve some periodic maintenance on your part, as grounds tend not to exist in a hermetically sealed bubble. Chassis grounds are fastened to sheet metal at various points around the vehicle. The best grounds are those that are securely fastened in direct contact with pristine sheet metal, which can be kept entirely free of corrosion and grime buildup between the terminal and sheet metal contact. That's easier to accomplish with the ground for the instrument lights than it is for the rear light group. The under dash is generally protected from the elements, while the exterior light groups are susceptible to accumulated moisture and grime exposure, the building blocks of corrosion. Applications of dielectric grease or Permatex Battery Protect/Seal help keep the corrosion at bay.
 
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