Sierra Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 So, my dash lights are no longer turning on. I check fuses, and follow all wires that lead to the main cluster and all seems fine. I replaced de dimmer switch and that fixed the issue for a couple of days. Lights are not working again. So I am thinking that there is a shot somewhere that is burning the dimmer. Any idea where should I start looking? BTW everything else works, radio, engine, oil, and other warning lights. Car: 1978 B210 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 Are the rear tail lights working, I believe they are on the same fuse. A short is a 'short cut' to ground. If this is the case enough current would flow to blow the fuse. Quote Link to comment
Sierra Posted March 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 Let me check the rear lights. 1 Quote Link to comment
MikeRL411 Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 Let me check the rear lights. Yes! They are hard to see from the driver's seat! I am waiting for my son to drop by to trouble shoot that problem with my RL411, he cured my break light problem but then had to go to work! "Work is the curse of the drinking man!" 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 If the tail lights are out then the fuse is likely blown, so don't trust them, replace them. Better yet get a $5 test lamp and see if there is even power to the fuse. If tail lights are on and dash lights are not it's possible the dimmer switch isn't properly grounded. Quote Link to comment
Sierra Posted April 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2015 Taillights work. They turn on when I turn the headlights but no dashboard lights :( I replaced all the fuses and got a couple of dimmer switches from the yard and play with the hem, but no luck. Someone told me to replace it the voltage regulator but I also read that the 78 model has the voltage regulator inside the alternator. I am at a lost. Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted April 2, 2015 Report Share Posted April 2, 2015 There is an "Instrument Panel Voltage Regulator" inside the cluster gauge. It has nothing to do with the lights. The dash lights won't work if the cluster is not grounded. If you had the dash at the time this may be the cause. If your dash Turn Signal lamps dont work either that is likely the problem. The oil lamp and CHG lamp is independent of the dash ground so they will still work. Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted April 2, 2015 Report Share Posted April 2, 2015 So, my dash lights are no longer turning on... I replaced de dimmer switch and that fixed the issue for a couple of days. ... Car: 1978 B210 1978 uses an active (electronic) dimmer, different from early B210 passive dimmer. Make sure you replace with the same type. Quote Link to comment
Sierra Posted April 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2015 The dimmers I got were from a 1979 and a 1980 210. Quote Link to comment
CWhip Posted April 2, 2015 Report Share Posted April 2, 2015 Just out of curiosity, have you checked/replaced the bulbs? Quote Link to comment
Sierra Posted April 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2015 I did. I actually swap the bulbs for LED bulbs and seemed to work fine for some time. Now that I am having this issue I put the old bulbs back just to make sure it was not the LED bulbs. Quote Link to comment
Sierra Posted April 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2015 How do I know if the cluster gauge is properly grounded? Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted April 2, 2015 Report Share Posted April 2, 2015 B210 1977-1978 Illumination Control used a semiconductor rheostat From this you can decide what happens if switch is not grounded, or if not powered. B310 1979-1982 used a different part number. Unknown if it is compatible. Quote Link to comment
Sierra Posted April 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2015 I give up :( . I can't seem to make the lights work with the dimmers I got from the yard. Any one out there have a dimmer switch for a 78 B210? Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted April 4, 2015 Report Share Posted April 4, 2015 Just unplug the switch & connect wires 2 & 3 together. Bypass the switch. Quote Link to comment
Sierra Posted April 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2015 Problem solve! Thanks a lot ggzilla. You Sir kick ass! Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted April 4, 2015 Report Share Posted April 4, 2015 Glad to hear! I never put them on dim anyways,full brightness is just adequate on a Datsun. Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 Just unplug the switch & connect wires 2 & 3 together. Bypass the switch. Smart move. Wish I had thought of it. :rofl: On my B210 I went through 4 dimmer switches until I found one that worked correctly. Even then, sometimes you had to wiggle the knob if the dash lights went off. Quote Link to comment
Sierra Posted April 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 Everything is back in its place and working as it was 1978. Thanks everyone for all your feedback. 1 Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 I need some floor mats like that! :thumbup: Quote Link to comment
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