updog Posted October 2, 2015 Report Share Posted October 2, 2015 Hi like it the title I have a 71' Datsun 510 with a Dash Gauge Light problem. When I am driving at night my Hazard Lights will flicker dimly intermittently, additionally my Dash Gauge Lights will come off and on while I'm driving (I'll hit a bump they work/ I hit the next bump they don't). They are more off than on at this point. To me it seems like a bad Ground but I don't know where the Ground would be located. I'd rather have an idea of where it is before I start taking apart my Dash to chase wire. Can you tell me where the Ground is located or if you think this is something else? Things that work: Headlights Taillights Brake Lights Turn Signals Things I've done Changed all Fuses Tried another light switch/ I tried a switch I bought from a friend and I get the same results. Things that don't work: High Beams but I think that is related to the Turn Signal Arm, it doesn't stay in the High Beam position as of a month ago. This is my first post on this forum sorry if it's in the wrong place. I tried to put in all the details I can think of. Thanks in advance! Quote Link to comment
dgi Posted October 2, 2015 Report Share Posted October 2, 2015 Here is what the back of the instrument pod looks like (factory tach version). If all of the pod's lights go out at one time, you may have a broken trace on the board. If so, locate and solder on a jumper. Or the ground pin's solder joint may be broken, or even a broken wire in the round plug's harness that connects the pod to the electrical system. 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted October 3, 2015 Report Share Posted October 3, 2015 It could be anything in the circuit. A circuit is a roughly circular route beginning and ending at the same place. Any break, anywhere, will disrupt it. Even the power side. Next time the dash lights are out go have a look at the tail lights. If they are also out it isn't the dash. Now, it could be the light switch or even the fuse that powers everything. 1 Quote Link to comment
shacks510 Posted October 3, 2015 Report Share Posted October 3, 2015 I had the same issue with the cluster lights flickering. It was just a bad ground. Redid that wire, and never had an issue again. Quote Link to comment
updog Posted October 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2015 Shacks510 where is the ground you are talking about. Is there a ground that is in the picture dgi posted or the wire. Since the day or so that I posted this. I took the panel off checked again the fuses and still the same issue. Playing with all this did pop the tail light fuse but replacing the fuse brought back the tail lights still don't have dash lights. I forgot to mention I have LED lights in the dash. From superbrightleds.com that I heard about on Ratsun. Don't think that should matter but maybe it does. Thanks again! Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted October 4, 2015 Report Share Posted October 4, 2015 The tail lights and the dash lights are the same fuse. If the fuse blew it may have blown again. So you're saying when the dash lights or off the tail lights are on??? If so then it isn't the fuse and the problem is anywhere between the fuse and the ground return. Try turning the dash light dimmer control. They get corroded or oxidized. Turn the dimmer back and forth about twenty times to polish the rheostat contacts. Quote Link to comment
shacks510 Posted October 4, 2015 Report Share Posted October 4, 2015 On an uncut harness, I don't know. All the grounds in the dash harness are tied together and grounded at one location. My harness had been previously cut, so MY ground is a wire going to the dash frame. Quote Link to comment
updog Posted October 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2015 DatzenMike. Yes tail lights and break lights work. Dash lights do not. I don't have a dimmer switch my headlight switch only pulls out. It doesn't rotate to dim. Quote Link to comment
usaf_daddy Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 I had a very similar issue, my problem was after 40 years my wire harness had been hacked so many times the connections were falling apart. The ground wire for the lights of the gauge cluster is the black wire in the #2 position of the plug best solution is to trace it and fix all connections or ground it to the dash frame like was mentioned above and I did as well and have no more issues Sounds like your high beam switch broke where it makes contact behind the steering wheel and as you go over bumps it will intermittently make contact, sounds unrelated to the dash lights to me. 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 Why does everyone think it's a ground problem??? Any interruption in a circuit will kill the lights. Do your temp and fuel gauge work??? My diagram shows the illumination ground also used by the voltage regulator for the two gauges. Quote Link to comment
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