Dash light dimmer gauge

by **spitfire9137** » 11 Oct 2005 22:18

Is it possible to buy a new dash liht dimmer switch or am I stuck with finding a decent used on ebay, mine is shot...

by **dave-r** » 12 Oct 2005 8:05

You could do what I did and just short it out so the dash lights are on full all the time. Leaving the interior light switch working of course.

by **spitfire9137** » 12 Oct 2005 11:54

Hey good idea, I never turn them down anyway, thanks dave

by **Jon** » 13 Oct 2005 15:15

I recently had a problem with the dimmer switch on my 70 R/T. You can take the switch apart by bending the tangs and carefullly removing the retainer washer on the back of the spool. Clean the contact points and resolder any broken connections. I don't know if it is a common flaw in the design but mine had a bad ground connection to the outside casing.

Jon

by **dave-r** » 13 Oct 2005 15:50

They do suffer from bad grounds. In the switch panel as a whole too.

But they also suffer from regular bad contact on the pot wiper.

You have a point. I guess it is always worth a try fixing it once or twice.

But by the third or fourth time I would by-pass the dimmer and get on with the rest of your life.

by **Caparco** » 08 Apr 2007 4:18

Hey Dave..lol.. long time no see!
was an old member back in 01 when i first got my car... you helped me alot!
Im having the same trouble with my dimmer switch too.. Im terrible with electronics!.. just how do you by pass the switch ? having that very dim green light on all the time wouldn't bother me... also have to find out why the interior light don't work too.
Good to see you still here!
Marc

by **dave-r** » 08 Apr 2007 9:08

Hello again!

To short out the dimmer you solder in a wire someplace I can't remember without looking at one.

Probably the wiper contact and the "bright" end of the rheostat.

by **spitfire9137** » 08 Apr 2007 13:52

I took some electrical cleaner, sprayed on mine, worked it back and forth a couple times and took a small brush to it. I also made sure the wiper was making tight contact on the spring. It has worked fine since then.

by **71_DEPUTY** » 09 Apr 2007 12:11

there is 3 wires

yellow- leave on the dimmer- this is to turn on/off the dome light.

black and tan- short these together- either get the two spade connectors out of the connector and either cut/solder and tape them or make a short wire with two flat spade male connectors to put between the two wires and tape.

John Mac

by **dave-r** » 09 Apr 2007 13:04

That is starting to ring a bell!

by **Caparco** » 17 Apr 2007 7:29

Wow John Mac
Great info Thanks!

by **71_DEPUTY** » 17 Apr 2007 12:06

WELCOME!

by **wizernow** » 29 Jul 2007 1:58

Did you find a solution to your dimmer switch? I have a '73 with the exact same problem. Was thinking of trying Year One for a new switch.

by **spitfire9137** » 30 Jul 2007 22:44

I took mine apart, cleaned it with contact cleaner real good, made sure the slider was making good contact on the spring and put it back together. It works ok now, probably not perfect but alot better than it was.

Dimmer Switch

Dimmer

Info