64: BULB FINALLY INSTALLED BUT CLOCK, GAUGE LIGHT AND RADIO DO NOT ILLUMINATE

[Norman Silverman]

HELLO ALL

So, after 4 hours work to remove and replace the bulb behind the "defrost" on the HVAC panel, the same bulbs that started me doing this are still out-even though I replaced all three of them. Those are the clock, the gague illumination and the radio. The gauges themselves work, and I tested each new bulb before I put it in and all worked perfectly. But it seems there's no power to these sockets. Does this ring a bell to anyone? Is there a common connection point where the wires for these three items meet?

Note: I replaced all the illumination bulbs with LEDs but that should not make a difference, all the other bulbs work- plus I did the same swap out in my 64 and 66 Imperials with nearly twice the illumination bulbs in each dash,  and every bulb worked afterwards. 

Stumped and injured (arms all cut up from removing and replacing that bulb on the HVAC control panel.)

Norm

[Russ Austin]

Power comes from the headlight switch. 

[Norman Silverman]

Russ.

Now I know where to start.  

In your experience, is it more likely to be a connection issue at the switch or an internal switch fault?

Thank you!

Norm

[Dennis P. DiBari]

Hi Norm,

     A lot of times with electrical connectors on the older cars, the connection could be bad.  I have used myriad times on my 64 Caddy the Electric Connector spray that I picked up at my parts store.  I've used it on headlight and blinker connectors.  It cleans the old connection and helps.  Just a thought.

Dennis DiBari

[Norman Silverman]

Thanks, Dennis. I will make sure all connections are clean, although those that I have seen look brand new-but that's no guarantee. 

Norm

[Norman Silverman]

Update-and its not good. 

After checking to make sure that the headlight switch was properly installed and the contacts clean (thanks, Russ), I removed the block that goes on to the back of the gauges, it has the illumination light and the GENERATOR and OIL lights mounted on it. At the suggestion of Dennis, I cleaned each friction ground contact on the block (four of them), cleaned all of the bulb sockets and reinstalled the bulbs.

With the block not plugged to the car but grounded and the headlight switch pulled out, the illumination light did light-BUT, neither the oil or generator light went on when the key was turned to "on." 

However, when I reinstalled the block in to the dash and started the car, the generator light did not come on with the key position in "ON" but as soon as the car started it came on BRIGHTLY. PLUS, the gas gauge and the temp gauge both started to weaken in their readings and finally no longer register. Something is failing. NOTE: the illumination bulb started to go bad gradually, by getting dimmer and dimmer till it went out entirely. I thought it was a bad bulb. 

I went to the battery with my gauge to see if the alternator had burned out, but I get a very strong charge when the car is running. 

Now, I am REALLY STUMPED. Any suggestions????

Is it possible the our cars cannot take LED bulbs in the dash?

Thanks

Norm

[Dennis P. DiBari]

Hi Norm,

     I know that some of the members did make the switch to LED bulbs and they worked.  Mine are still regular bulbs.  Not sure what to tell you with the other gauges failing.  Check if you disturbed any of the wiring in the process of separating the connectors.  These connections are 60 years old and delicate.  Wish I could help further, but stumped on this one.

Dennis DiBari