Pelayo114

The dash lights in my 1977 corvette all just died on me one night. Driving and all lights turn off in the dash and gauges. The exterior lights are working perfectly including headlights(not high beams), turn signals, emergency flashers, brake light, reverse light, everything, even in the dash only the turn signals light works. And the "Brake" light which I haven't fixed because my hand brake isn't connected yet. Does anyone have any idea why my interior lights died? just in the dash and gauges area so I can keep an eye on my temp and speed. And yeah I'm only 19 and fairly new to everything in my car. I ordered a repair manual but its in shipping and taking a while. Any help please?

fanmanbd

Could be your headlight switch. Have you tried turning it? Sometimes the rheostat has dead spots.

myko

There is a very fragile circuit board that runs the dash lights. If a fuse is not your problem I would take a look at this part to be sure that it intact. I have the exact same problem on my '80 and will eventually be replacing this part (I already know it is bad but haven't gotten to the dash restoration yet).

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....Z5Z5Z50000050G PS - Wilcox has it for about half this price through eBay - I think this still directly supports our sponsors.

7T1vette

Very likely a foil trace on that circuit board has failed...or you lost a ground connection to the dash lights circuit.

Pelayo114

Could it still be these suggestions you guys have given me if the lights occasionally turn on when driving at night? Sometimes the lights will turn on as I'm driving (with light switch on) but more often they are just unresponsive and turned off. Could it still be that circuit board? or is it more likely a fuse(which i have no idea where its at) or a bad ground?

Easy Mike

Check the IP fuse first.

Pelayo114

Where is the IP fuse located? Or what does it look like?
I'm still new to almost everything in my car so sorry for so many questions.

fanmanbd

The only printed circuit board that I know of on a 77 is for the electronic tach. Does this board have anything to do with lighting? An intermitent problem could be the light switch or a short in the cluster wiring.

Pelayo114

I have turned the light switch both clockwise and counter-clockwise, no effect on the interior dash lighting at all.
If its shorted is it an easy or difficult fix?

fanmanbd

You would need to replace it but it would suck if it wasn't the problem. Maybe someone knows which wire on the switch is for the dash lights, then you could pull it off and apply 12 volts to see if they work by bypassing the switch.

0Willcox Corvette

The 1977 cars used a different timer than the 1978-1982 cars. The 78-82 cars have this time located behind the glove box on the outer edge. On 1977 the delay timer was right behind the speedo and tach and not easy to get to. If I remember correctly the terminals that connect to the timer can be un-plugged and plugged in to each other to by-pass this timer.



The issue though sounds like a loose wire, bad headlamp switch, bad connector at the headlamp switch to me.

MacVette86

Yes, I just did this to my delay timer on my 77. Jumper the two white wires in the plug that attaches to the silver delay timer and it will bypass the delay function. So the interior lights will come on when you open the door and turn off when you close it.

0Willcox Corvette

Memory check... good to go.... for today, tomorrow I may forget this again.