Dash Light not working

I am having a problem with the dash lights in my 72 skylark... the dash lights do not work. all of the other lights work i.e. oil light, brake light, blinkers, the oval light for high beams works.. all of them work except for my speedometer lights, which worked at one point in time. I checked the fuse's and changed them and they still do not work? could it be that i need to change the bulb? or could there be another issue?? also when i turn my headlights on the blinker lights on the dash light up as well, but still work fine when i turn them on to turn..

 

could be a bulb or 2, when i took off my dash i found several lights out even a few i didnt know where supposed to light up, marty

 

Maybe connector is loose.

 

"Champion", please put your first name in your signature, we are all here on a friendly first name base :TU:

Since you are new to the board, and maybe also to older cars:

Are you aware of the fact that you can dim the dashboard light by turning the light switch knob ?
Turning the switch all the way to the left will switch on the interior lights.

 

good point Erik.

 

thanks i will give tht a try.. didnt knw tht could be done

 

yea i am new to older cars.. had my car for like five years and am still learning.. case and point, i have been driving around in the dark for abt three years b/c i thought my dash lights didn't work.. i turned it to the left like you suggested and viola!!! darkness no longer a problem..

 

That's good to hear Adrian :TU: !

 

I would bet and bet heavy that if you replace the headlight switch they will work..Don't know how or why...But this happens when the headlight switch goes bad.

 

Brian, I reckon you are a slow typer...... ?

 

yep
lol
:beers2:

 

It happens when this "resistance wire" in the switch burns out:

 

I didn't knw it turned b/c the knob feel off, so it is just the metal post there..will advance or autozone carry the switch i need to replace it with?? because i noticed tht wen i moved the switch a little bit, the lights got dimmer..

 

Those switches were used in a lot of GM and Chrysler cars until 1986 or so, only the knobs were different.
So I guess you can find a replacement very easy :TU:

If you want to remove the switch, you first have to pull out the shaft.
There is a little button on the switch that you need to push in, so you can pull the shaft all the way out of the switch.

 

Pep boys had them for $11. I was shocked.

 

I appreciate your help

 

thank you for your help