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Electrical problems


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racepontiacs
New User

Dec 11, 2013, 5:33 AM

Post #1 of 11 (1933 views)
Electrical problems Sign In

   It's a 1988 Chevrolet 3/4 Ton 4X4 Suburban. It has a 5.7L and I'm not sure on the miles, but 100k at least.
It all started with I'd turn my lights and put it in reverse
and the fuse for my dash lights would blow. The dash lights have there own fuse and of course it's gotten worse. I don't have any power going to the gauge cluster at all, nothing works. I've checked all the stuff you would normally check I cleaned all of the ground
wire connections and light bulbs and the sockets also. Anyway I have no power at the fuse block for the dash lights. It starts and drives normal all the other lights work just fine along with the heater and everything else....Help


Crazy


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Dec 11, 2013, 5:38 AM

Post #2 of 11 (1928 views)
Re: Electrical problems Sign In

No power at either side of a dedicated fuse? If that block is mounted directly to firewall it may have problems as it connects to a matching block under the hood. Wet - corroded??

Just once found a problem there. OE was smothered in a white grease and connection was poor to nothing on that case right there. JUST A GUESS and rare at that if so,

T



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Dec 11, 2013, 5:42 AM

Post #3 of 11 (1919 views)
Re: Electrical problems Sign In

Add to that: Does using dash dimmer to off stop blowing fuses? That assembly may also be the issue,

T



Hammer Time
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Dec 11, 2013, 6:13 AM

Post #4 of 11 (1907 views)
Re: Electrical problems Sign In

You aren't supposed to see power on the dash light fuse. That fuse is on the ground side of the circuit and only has power flowing through it when the lights are on. The power supply for the dash lights is a shared supply with the tail lights. The reason for that is so that if you lose your tail lights, the dash lights will also go out to warn you although there is a second fuse that monitors the dash lights only.

I would take a hard look at the dash light dimmer switch which may be incorporated into the light switch.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



DanD
Veteran / Moderator
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Dec 11, 2013, 6:22 AM

Post #5 of 11 (1904 views)
Re: Electrical problems Sign In

The dash light (5amp) fuse will only have power on it when the headlight switch is turned on to at least the parking light position.

Dan.

You beat me to the fuse. LOL

Canadian "EH"






(This post was edited by DanD on Dec 11, 2013, 6:23 AM)


racepontiacs
New User

Dec 11, 2013, 6:55 AM

Post #6 of 11 (1890 views)
Re: Electrical problems Sign In

I was hopping I wouldn't have to do that but what the hell I have everything else torn apart.
Thanks


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Dec 11, 2013, 7:16 AM

Post #7 of 11 (1888 views)
Re: Electrical problems Sign In

More guessing: 1988 "GM Truck dash should be easy as they go. The switch for headlights not sure if a pull knob or turn knob with a wheel for dimming for the exact year.

Power it up meaning fuse out, turn whatever to brighten the lights as if all was normal and see if that fuse still has power. Then if not we go finding out why. A 5 amp fuse doesn't take too much of a short to blow IMO if so,

T



racepontiacs
New User

Dec 26, 2013, 6:48 PM

Post #8 of 11 (1817 views)
Re: Electrical problems Sign In

Yes the dimmer is incorporated in to the light switch.
I replaced the light switch after the fuse blew since the switch that was in it was used when I got it. When I plugged the new one in it started to smoke so I unplugged it and the first part of the spring on the rheostat. I got the switch at AutoZone and is made in china so I went and got a new one. 'I couldn't find one made in america. That's f)*^&$ b(**$#@!. I plugged in the second new one in and nothing, the fuse didn't blow but still no dash lights. I check the fuse with the lights on and it has power.
I did pull the fuse block and all is fine.
This all started after I changed the heater core.
Yes it has A/C.


racepontiacs
New User

Jan 2, 2014, 4:08 PM

Post #9 of 11 (1765 views)
Re: Electrical problems Sign In

I was wondering if I could pick your brain when you have some time?


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jan 2, 2014, 4:21 PM

Post #10 of 11 (1762 views)
Re: Electrical problems Sign In

If you have a follow up to this question, post it here. If you have an unrelated question, then start a new question.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jan 3, 2014, 3:01 AM

Post #11 of 11 (1740 views)
Re: Electrical problems Sign In

Race - as said a new question and thread please. Please restate "year make model" as now mega thousands of threads nobody is going to recall you by username............ Tom







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