trouble with dash lights

[Rocky Ak]

I'm having trouble with my speedometer and tach. not being visible at night unless I shine a light (or lighter) in front of the electric sensor (doing this makes them light up very well). Does this mean my light switch is bad?

 

[Jeb]

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66648

Check this thread.

 

[Rocky Ak]

thanks Jeb. I had read that thread but it semed they were saying if the speedo and tach were visible at night after a light was shined in the photocell it might not be the light bulbs. I've bought a switch and will replace it and then I'll pull the cluster and check the bulbs. I'll have to wait a week or so as the car is in the paint shop (it had been painted last week and I'm just waiting for him to finish up).
thanks.

 

[Jeb]

The bulbs backlight the LCDs. Without the backlight to excite the LCDs, the LCDs won't be visible. They dim at night but still must be on or you won't see the LCDs properly

The sensor tells the lights when there is daylight and increases the backlighting of the LCDs so they will be visible during daylight.

You can test this by turning on your headlamps during the day and watch what happens. The LCD in the radio will dim noticably. The guages aren't as noticeable but they will also dim somewhat.

 

[Rocky Ak]

I got the corvette back today and will apply what I've read and see what I've learned. thank you very much.

 

[I_R_DA_ONE]

If you replace the lamps in the dash ,,, replace them all ....they are halogen and cost about 12.00 each but they are a pain to change...what I do is take off the front trim...and use a pair of hemostats and pull the old lamps out of thier sockets....then use a rubber hose that just fits over the lamps with a nail inside the hose to push the lamp out once you get the lamp into place....the new lamps come with sockets but I do not use the sockets.....wear soft clean gloves so not to get oil or dirt on the lamps..it will make them burn out fast
Mike

 

[redc4corvette]

http://www.batee.com/corvette/dcrg/problems.shtml

 

[Rocky Ak]

the thing that has caused me concern is that at night with vehicle lights off I see the dash cluster just fine...then when I turn on my haedlights, the dash cluster goes dark. this is what made me think I had a problem with the light switch itself... I'll play with it some more.

 

[Jeb]

the thing that has caused me concern is that at night with vehicle lights off I see the dash cluster just fine...then when I turn on my haedlights, the dash cluster goes dark. this is what made me think I had a problem with the light switch itself... I'll play with it some more.

After re-reading this thread and a few days reflection, I'm thinking your problem probably isn't in the bulbs but rather the switch or switch circuit.

Please let us know how you make out with the switch. We all learn something that way.