Re: Instrument Lights Quit Working
John-----
Okay, based upon what you've described now, I may be able to help. First off, though, let me say that I really don't understand why the lights will not operate when you install a 10 amp fuse and it does not blow. You might want to check this fuse and make sure that it's really not blown (check for continuity).
I had this exact same problem occur on my 69 after I did some "behind the dash work". It just about had me stumped after I had worked on the problem for hours on end. But, with further effort and a lot of luck, I found it.
As you know, due to the Corvette's fiberglass body, most of the chassis electrical has to be fitted with a seperate ground wire. These wires are often contained within the wiring harnesses and are usually black in color. What had happend in my case was that at a solder joint where several of these ground wires are joined together, there was a fairly large "barb" of solder. Apparently, after I did some under dash work and disturbed the wiring harness, this "barb" worked its way through the wire insulation of an adjoining wire which just happened to be the power wire for the dash light circuit. This caused a dead short to ground in this circuit and caused fuses to blow instantly upon installation.
In my case, the problem was located in the under dash harness in the large diameter trunk which is to the side of the radio (left side, as I recall). You will need to unwrap the wiring harness tape to locate the spot where the ground wires come together and are soldered.
John-----
Okay, based upon what you've described now, I may be able to help. First off, though, let me say that I really don't understand why the lights will not operate when you install a 10 amp fuse and it does not blow. You might want to check this fuse and make sure that it's really not blown (check for continuity).
I had this exact same problem occur on my 69 after I did some "behind the dash work". It just about had me stumped after I had worked on the problem for hours on end. But, with further effort and a lot of luck, I found it.
As you know, due to the Corvette's fiberglass body, most of the chassis electrical has to be fitted with a seperate ground wire. These wires are often contained within the wiring harnesses and are usually black in color. What had happend in my case was that at a solder joint where several of these ground wires are joined together, there was a fairly large "barb" of solder. Apparently, after I did some under dash work and disturbed the wiring harness, this "barb" worked its way through the wire insulation of an adjoining wire which just happened to be the power wire for the dash light circuit. This caused a dead short to ground in this circuit and caused fuses to blow instantly upon installation.
In my case, the problem was located in the under dash harness in the large diameter trunk which is to the side of the radio (left side, as I recall). You will need to unwrap the wiring harness tape to locate the spot where the ground wires come together and are soldered.
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