67 Instrument cluster running lights

[Fred Y.]

Hi everyone,
I'm at the stage of my 67's restoration where I am close to re-installing my instrument cluster.The car is running with the cluster out (ignition switch ok) & the headlight motors are in now & the warning light goes on & off when I move the headlight switch so I know there is juice there.Last night I decided to begin replacing the old running light bulbs in the cluster etc with new ones before I put the cluster back in(although sometimes I wonder if I should leave the original "made in USA" 40yr old bulbs with new "made in China" bulbs??)Regardless,I was not able to get the inside cluster running light bulbs to work even when I grounded them to the cage.I must be forgetting something----but what??? Thanks for your help.Fred

[Stephen L.]

Re: 67 Instrument cluster running lights

Check fuse........

Install an old bulb (known to be good), ground the bulb housing, turn on headlight switch (rotate for brightness).

[Fred Y.]

Re: 67 Instrument cluster running lights

Will try again Steve. Perhaps I had the reostat/dimmer turned all the way down----I forgot to check that.Thankyou

[Timothy B.]

Re: 67 Instrument cluster running lights

Frederick,

You have to ground the cluster with a black wire that plugs to a spade that is attached to one of the screws at the toip right side of the cluster.

[Fred Y.]

Re: 67 Instrument cluster running lights

Tim,
The cluster is NOT in the car yet. So are you telling me to find the black ground wire that would normally ground to the cluster,ground it w/alligator clips & then would the lights work??? or do I need to still ground each of them seperately?? Also,FYI the brown "HOT" wire is just hanging there as well !!???
Fred

[Stephen L.]

Re: 67 Instrument cluster running lights

Each light socket needs to be grounded as you test them. It is not necessary to ground ALL at the same time. You only need to ground them to the metal framework behind the cluster.

Make sure the other lights/grey wires are not touching anything metal

[Lorne G.]

Re: 67 Instrument cluster running lights

Frederick, Exactly the same thing happened to me last weekend. I installed a new wiring harness and all gauges, lighter, wipers and headlights function perfectly but the none of the instrument lights work. I checked the ground at the top of the cluster and also replaced the headlight switch but still nothing.
With the headlight switch on I noticed there was no power at the fuse. Since I have not installed the steering column yet I am wondering if the power to the fuse from the switch, goes through the steering column harness and that is why I have no power. Can anyone confirm that this harness must be plugged in for the instrument lights to work.

I currently have the column apart so I can not plug it in yet.

Lorne

[Fred Y.]

Re: 67 Instrument cluster running lights

Hello Lorne,
I wondered that as well,as my column is in but I have not plugged in it's wire to the harness below yet.But I had figured it only had to do with the horn & dir. signals.

[Stephen L.]

Re: 67 Instrument cluster running lights

Per the wiring diagram:

Power source for the instrument lights comes from the headlight switch via 16DG wire to the fuseblock. Then thru the fuse to the instrument lites via 20GY wire.

If you are checking voltage at fuse:
1. the headlite switch must be on
2. The instrument dimmer must be rotated to maximum brightness.
3. Votage is NOT checked across the fuse; but from the fuse to a GOOD ground.
4. If you have NO voltage at fuse to ground then the headlite switch is:
A. Not rotated as above.
B. Has no voltage at the RED 12R wire (again to ground) (No headlites would function)
C. The switch is bad.
5. To test around the switch jumper from a 12vdc source to the fuse and check for voltage at any of the 20G instrument lite wires to a good ground.

[Lorne G.]

Re: 67 Instrument cluster running lights

Thanks for the information Stephen.
Based on your test recommendations it seems that my problem must be the switch itself as the headlights work but not the instrument lights. Since there is no power from the fuse box I will take your advice and will bypass the green wire from the switch and run power to the fuse which should power the grey wire and the green at other locations. If the lights work then it is the switch, if not .......a bad ground?????

Do I need the steering column harness connected? I see that the green wire goes from the light switch to a body connector and then to the steering column and fuse box. Perhaps being unplugged is a factor.

Lorne

[Fred Y.]

Re: 67 Instrument cluster running lights

Thankyou Steve,
Will try when I get home tonight & post my results!!

[Lorne G.]

Re: 67 Instrument cluster running lights

Stephen, I followed your advice and isolated the problem to the switch. When I jumped the power from the red wire to the green wire on the switch harness the instrument lights worked.
Thanks for your help.
Lorne

[Fred Y.]

Re: 67 Instrument cluster running lights

Sometimes you get lucky!! After taking a closer look at the cluster headlight switch I spun the knob 2-3 times back & forth & it turned out it was dust/dirt from the 40 yr old switch and the fact that it had not been used in some 15 months from my restoration and the dash lights began to work again once I grounded them to the steering column.Thanks for all the help!