Headlight Switch Short?

[81L81]

Maybe someone can help me. My temp gauge works fine until you turn on the headlights. After turning them on the temp gauge pin goes off the charts. As you dial the light switch adjustment down, the temp gauge needle returns to the normal temperture.

Any ideas?
I ordered a new light switch. Any suggestions on installing the new one?

Thanks for your help

 

[C3L81]

Wow that makes me want to drive with my lights off. Seriously i havnt driven it at night yet, now im scared. Good luck solving your problem

 

[bill81vette]

this is a perplexing question to say the least...but I'll give it a try.......

after looking at the wiring diagrams for the 81's I can onle guess that perhaps you MAY have a wire that is worn thru,and is somehow touching the back of the feed for the temp gauge.
the only way to find out is to take the center panel with the gauges in it out,and see if something like this has occured...might be a nice 'to do' thing if you want to kill some time this weekend.


good luck
bill.......

 

[Pa Goose]

Sounds an awful lot like the problems I have been having with mine for the past 6 months only it is all of the gauges, replaced the headlight switch and it got worse. Now all of the gauges go to zero if the dash dimmer is on, and they read about half of what they should when the dash dimmer/headlight switch is off. Now this gets even worse, I can have the key is in my pocket, the check engine light is on ALL the time. If I put the key in and turn it on, the check engine light goes out. Turn the key off and the check engine light comes back on. After about a week of sitting it kills the battery. IF you are lucky enough to find the problem with yours let me know as I can not find what is wrong with mine. Have spent lots of $$$$ at the dealership and they haven't got a clue.