LUVTruck.com

First off, electrical and me, we don't get play well together. I can muddle my way through most things, but I need some help diagnosing why my guage lights aren't working. The bottom half of the guage seems to be working fine, (seat belt, gen, blinkers etc..) but the top half, the ones that illuminate it in the dark aren't working. I have taken it out, and looked at all the bulbs, none of which appear to have any physical problems, my next step was going to be to switch the upper bulbs with the lower bulbs and see if everything that was working is still working. I know that they are tied to the light switch itself, but don't think that is the problem. I tried to search for this type of problem, but couldn't really find anything, or the right combination of keywords, so I now must bow to the LUV gawds and hope that you all can offer me some suggestions on how to fix it. It's mighty dark driving home from work now, and I'm skeered of the dark.

Thanks,

Chad

There is one possible stupid-simple solution. I hope you won't be offended that I bring it up. ;P If you turn the light switch knob counter-clockwise it acts as a dimmer for the dash illumination lights. Try spinning it the other way, or back and forth to see if it is just dimmed out. Make sure the shaft is turning, not just the knob.

There is a spring at the back of the light switch that is involved in all this. If it is broken, the dash lights won't come on at all.

Yep. I got a replacement from a Trooper by the way. looks like it has a better design and works perfectly, same plug too.

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Resident lurker

Not offended at all, I did try that though, and no luck. I will look tomorrow in the light at the spring.

Diar, that's good info, I'll have to keep that in the back o my mind.

Thanks,

Chad

Now I might buy alotta stuff on here, but NOT that , you forget I met you,(and sold you that lil bundle of problems there).

Sorry to hear that more things have gone hay-wire w it

Well, turns out I also have no parking lights / tail lights. Brake lights come on when I hit the brakes, and all turn signals work when triggered, but are dark otherwise. Picked up a switch from an 85 trooper today, gonna switch it in tonight at home after work, to see if it fixes the dash light problem, but initial test didn't make difference with the other lights.

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance,

Chad

I guess there is one other duh answer then, check your fuses. There is one that happens to control pretty much everything you are having problems with. Even if the fuse looks like it is good, try swapping it out as those glass fuses can just seperate inside and stop working.

The trooper light switch is kinda funny to me actually. I had a LUV switch in my trooper for a while before I figured out that my problem was something else.

All fuses appear intact, but that's a good idea, I'll get some new ones and switch them all out. Sometimes you just get tunnel vision.

Thanks,

Chad

Chad,
Duane just saw this on his way out the door, he said tell you to replace the fuse block.He will be back in lil bit,he has some issues right now

Thanks Duane and Patti, I know where I can find one if replacing the fuses themselves doesn't work.

Chad

ok bro..its simple get you a cheap tester and go to your fuse box,which on luv are simply crap,anyways check the wires coming into your box,if you have current,its in your box,if you don't its in your wiring=somewhere,this will save you a lot of time and trips to a car parts store or junk yard..

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434 pushing 732 hp with no spray!!!

Ok, so I went and got me a tester, needed one anyway and here are my findings so far.....

to the tail lights when the light switch is turned on, I have .30v at the lamp, with the brakes applied I have 14v so it seems I'm getting current back there, but is the .30v normal? I read this post which is similar to the problems I am having (http://forums.luvtruck.com/viewtopic.php?t=6091) and in looking for a ground under the dash, I'm not finding one. I would think it would somewhat obvious and not hidden but I could be wrong so any hints on where it should be?

I checked the fuse box and am getting 13-14v all the way through so at this point I'm ruling that out. If you have some thoughts post em up, or give me a call at 303-601-2505 if you have time to talk and help me walk through them.

Thanks,

Chad

Take the plug apart on the passenger side that connects the rear wiring and test the contacts on the plug and see what you are getting there....

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Resident lurker

Well, here is the latest, I am getting 14v into the switch, but next to nothing at the interchange that Di told me to check. I have tried 2 different light switches, cleaned all the connectors, checked grounds, fuses, etc... at this point I'm thinking it is time to turn it over to a professional, before I make it worse. This is my daily driver so I can lose it for a day, 2 tops, to have it checked but I don't have the time to unwrap all the wiring and chase down where the problem is, plus it is too dang cold in my garage. If anyone has any other suggestions I'm all ears.

Thanks for the help, sometimes you just gots to know your limits.

Chad

sucks to hear chaddmann
i'm having the same problem with my garage being to cold. its so cold in mine that my lights won't come on if you can get your hands on some carpet to lay down it'll really help out man

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1980 luv sport 4x4 Just a memory now
Frame rusted from the inside. Truck stripped and now looking for a new donor in southern ohio

I have a nice warm garage=BIG ol woodstove and it goes like crazy all day long, sometimes im down to a tee-shirt wipin sweat in there

So why don't yall jus come on down w ya probs an jus make a day of it here......you'd be fixed up in no time flat

I know I know....shut up my pie hole ,right

hey, nothing quite like good ol southern hospitality...........I did offer,yall jus remember that

Well, the latest is this, I haven't taken it anywhere yet, lot o money to do that, so I hot wired directly to the plug on the passenger side, and bingo, lights come on, dash, tail and running. So based on this, the badness appears to be between the connector at the light switch and the connector on the passenger side that feeds all the lights. Does that sound about right to everyone else? I know I have power hitting the connector under the dash at the light switch. So now I guess it is unwrap all the wiring along the way to try to find where it is bad. Or do I just replace that connector?

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance and after the fact if I haven't already said so.

Chad

Oh, I just found this thread

http://forums.luvtruck.com/viewtopic.ph ... ght=wiring

Talk about deja vu!!!