dashlights

uh No you shouldn't have to... But mine doesn't sit where its supposed to..

If you go under the dash and find the push pull thing. unhook the power supply to it. then there should be a button like thing, push this all the way in and pull the knob all the way out. than just take the whole thing out, keep the knob thing that you pulled out and go to autozone and ask them for the a push pull light switch for whatever you car is.. it should be around 15$.

Then when you get home, re mount it wherever it was, plug it back in and then push the knob all the way in. It should click. turn it all the way to the left and it should make the dashlights illuminate.. hopefully that was clear ish.

 

Those gray, green & black plastic knobs are sockets for the dash light bulbs. Turn them 1/2 rotation ccw and they come out. The bulbs are then pulled out of the sockets. Install ALL NEW BULBS while you have the dash out. The car is 40 yrs. old, most of them will be fried by now.

 

ok! ty

Also, im not taking the dash apart. I can reach them without taking it out.. Just didn't know that all of them were lights.

 

I would think it would be easier to take the dash out than to try and fish all those small light receptacles out and down and back up and back in.

 

Maybe you're right, then, to NOT take the dash apart.

 

There getting harder and harder to reach.. Only one not really being able to reach without a lot of effort..

also.. I was just trying put one in and the steering column sparked a few times...

Is this static electricity? or what?

Because there isn't any open wires on it.. and the car isn't running and the lights are off..

Need an answer asap

 

That's NOT statoc electricity. I'm no electrician. But, sounds to me like you've got a hot wire that's grounding (shorting out). Whatever is wrong os what caused your dash lights to blow. It IS very unusual for all dash light s to go out at once. Hopefully someone with more knowledge than me will chime in in a minute.

 

Sparks from the steering column sounds like you're got a problem with starter/ignition switch. loose or frayed wires grounding out.

 

I'll go check if it will start. And the dash lights have been out for a long time and they worked once i changed the light switch..

So.. yeah. this just started recently. I might have moved a wire lose or something.

 

I agree. I think you've got more than a bulb and/or fuse at issue.

 

That could be it. There's not much room between the back of the cluster and the firewall. A wire or wire might have come loose.

 

yup. called my dad and told him it wouldn't start now..

Cause it doesn't
He said that the only things that could be wrong are, DEAD batterie.. i just started it.. can't be that.

starter wire is lose.

Or my own suspicion is that a wire shorted out or something

 

Well..
The alternators bearing is going out, and the belt is loose, also the cable going to the steering coloumn is fried and i have to find the one my mom bought for it.. anyone know how its supposed to be mounted cause its not right

 

Jacob,
I suggest, if, you haven't already, to get a shop manual specific to your car. Do you have an owner's manual? It should show a diagram of the fuse block. A Chilton Motors Manual, that includes your car. Try E-Bay. I don't have the knowledge to tell you about an 'A' body car, having never owned, worked on, or even driven one. Most of the people that could help you are'nt on line on the weekend. Surely one of them will come on, and help you early in the week. In the mean time maybe a wiring diagram, or something. What is the history of your car? Has it been sitting up for a while? If you get a new alternator, don't get a rebuilt one from a discount parts store. Those are notorious. I would try a Balkamp from NAPA, if I couldn't get a GM rebuilt replacement.
Good Luck,
Bulldog

 

This could be part of the problem. But, from what is further described I think there is more to it. But, Jacob yes you should look for a loose or missing ground. I wish, I knew where to tell you to look, but I know next to nothing about Skylarks.

 

it sat for awhile, than we drop it with no problems.. than it sat for a few months and now im driving it..

>.< eventually it will run right...

and the cable from the steering column to the battery or wherever it goes was grounding into the exhaust manifold. or something. I think thats where the spark came from

 

Well, do you have dash lights?????

 

i have 2 of 3 dashlights.. But my car won't stay running now.. the battery is dead and the altenator is going out.. So yeah.. 100$ lol...

 

Scrimping on an alternator, might cost you more in the long run. I would get a GM rebuilt alternator or an NAPA Balkamp alternator. The last time I bought an Autozone alternator, I had to return three and finally the forth was good. And even that wasn't quite right. The idiot light would faintly glow any time the ignition was on.

 

Get a rebuild kit, rebuild your own and save $$$ for something else...