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Gauge lights
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 5:20 pm
by Howie
Hi folks. I bought a barely used 2001 206 about a year ago. All is fine but the gauge lights never worked. I’m not on the water at night much but it bugs me. I twirled the dimmer up and down but that had no affect. I looked under the dash at the backs of the gauges and couldn’t see anything that looked like a bulb fuse. Dash breakers are not tripped. Do I have to take the gauges apart to access the bulbs? Any suggestions? Seems like this should be a simple DIY job.
Re: Gauge lights
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 6:09 pm
by dustinm
Get a volt meter and check voltage to dimmer and out to cluster.
Re: Gauge lights
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 6:33 pm
by Big Block Power
dustinm wrote: Fri Jan 08, 2021 6:09 pm
Get a volt meter and check voltage to dimmer and out to cluster.
What check for power? Where do you start? I have power.
Re: Gauge lights
Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2021 12:09 am
by xlint89
On the back of the gauges is a black thingamajig. With your fingers or a pair of needle-nose pliers, turn it 1/4 turn (I can[t remember if it's to the left or to the right) and pull it out. Your bulb should be inside that piece.
You shouldn't have to muscle it, but pay attention. There are 2 small brass tangs that make the elec connection that can get damaged if not paying attention.
I have found those brass tangs can have a bad connection on multiple gauges.
Also make sure your ground wire is sound on the gauges and wherever to terminates. (Most likely a grounding block under the dash)
Re: Gauge lights
Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2021 8:28 am
by Big Block Power
xlint89 wrote: Sat Jan 09, 2021 12:09 am
On the back of the gauges is a black thingamajig. With your fingers or a pair of needle-nose pliers, turn it 1/4 turn (I can[t remember if it's to the left or to the right) and pull it out. Your bulb should be inside that piece.
You shouldn't have to muscle it, but pay attention. There are 2 small brass tangs that make the elec connection that can get damaged if not paying attention.
I have found those brass tangs can have a bad connection on multiple gauges.
Also make sure your ground wire is sound on the gauges and wherever to terminates. (Most likely a grounding block under the dash)
What he's saying is. Like you're 1969 firebird dash that always burned out dash lights had these black bulb socket holders and a quarter turn to the left revived them from the printed circuit on the back of the housing. If it gets ripped or damaged it's done. Do you need to Check for power and grd first. If you don't know how to do this bring it to your local holiday Inn and spend the night and watch TV. In the morning crawl back under the dash and replace the bulbs. Or fix the wiring. Pretty straight forward.
Re: Gauge lights
Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2021 11:48 am
by Howie
Thanks, all.
I did see the center thingie in the middle, gave it a pull but didn’t try turning it first. I was a little timid not knowing what was what, and things did look delicate. Furthermore the previous owner routed the audio wiring across the back of the gauges, so that’s all in the way. I will start by getting that all out of the way, put a meter on dimmer switch, then go from there.
Thanks for the info. Forgive me if I don’t report back with results right away. This is a low priority item, but as I said in the original post, it bugs me that it’s not working.
Thanks again...