HELP! C2 1963 Corvette Dash Lights will not come on!

[Greg S.]

I am just finishing a long full body off restoration of my 1963 Corvette. I recently installed the dash cluster and I have been in the process of testing all the electrical functions on the car without actually starting it-haven't made it that far yet. The issue I require help on is the lack of dash lights when I turn on the headlights and taillights. I also don't have any directional signal lights on the dash. I have tried everything I can think of to get the cluster gauge lights to come on but to no avail. Here's some background information on the state of my car as I work on this issue.

The restoration includes brand new wire harnesses.
I don't have the steering column installed yet but I did hook up the loose steering column to wire harness via the directional signal switch on the column. (prior to doing this the headlights/taillights did not come on).
I checked and even replaced the 4 amp fuse for the dash lights.
I checked the ground tab on the back of the dash cluster and it is hooked up correctly to the ground wire exiting the dash wire harness.
I installed an NOS headlight switch but I don't have an original 1995095, instead I have a 1995099 switch which as far as I can tell is the same switch electrically. I don't seem to have the original light switch I took out of the car so I cannot try that instead.
The light switch is not installed in the cluster so I tried running a ground wire from the switch directly to the battery ground. I also tried a ground wire from the radio ground point on the underside of the dash support bar.
I still think somewhere I am missing a ground wire connection but not sure where it could be at this point after reviewing the wire diagram.

I am looking for other suggestions of things to try a this point. Thanks guys.
Greg

[Joe R.]

Re: HELP! C2 1963 Corvette Dash Lights will not come on!

Greg,

By any chance could you have purchased your wiring harness from Lectric Limited?

JR

[Timothy B.]

Re: HELP! C2 1963 Corvette Dash Lights will not come on!

Greg,

Did you check with a test light and good known ground to make sure there is power on both sides of the fuse for dash lights, that will tell you if power is getting to that circuit.

There is a copper ground wire that grounds the birdcage to frame on the drivers side front #2 body mount, (the mount behind the front tire). The dash bulbs have a metal socket and ground through the cluster to harness to birdcage to frame.

Start with the simple stuff, you will find the problem.

[Edward J.]

Re: HELP! C2 1963 Corvette Dash Lights will not come on!

Greg, As Tim says checking the fuse for power would be my first step, keep in mind that that fuse is powered only when the park or headlight switch is on. if not head to the wiring harness at switch, and make sure that the harness maker has not put one of the wires in the wrong socket of the plastic connector, As Joe R. is likely implying.

[Duke W.]

Re: HELP! C2 1963 Corvette Dash Lights will not come on!

I interpret what you are saying is that when you turn the headlights on the taillights also work. IIRC the taillights and IP lights are on the same fuse, so if the taillights work, the problem is in the IP power or ground circuits.

Duke