[cwelk87gn]

I just bought an 87 GN today and have fulfilled a dream I've had for years of owning a turbo Buick. I was driving home this afternoon and went to switch the headlights on and while the outside lights came right on, none of my dash lights work. I am thinking about the dimmer switch for the dash lights may be to blame, any ideas?? dunno

 

[salvageV6]

Dash lamps work on a fuse off the tail lamps fuse circuit so check that 20 amp. fuse first.

It's a 5 ampere fuse called INST LPS.

Both the 20ampere and the 5 ampere fuse must be good for them to work.

Also the dimmer has to be working properly too.

Possible causes for blown fuses would be aftermarket gauge lighting or a shorted shifter bulb wire to ground inside the console. Gray wires usually denote lamp wiring for things such as radio lighting etc.

 

[cwelk87gn]

Good advice! I know that every time I replace the 20 amp fuse it pops immediately, so it has to be a dead short. What's the easiest way to access the console light for the shifter?

 

[salvageV6]

Two screws in the ash tray area.

Two inside the console box itself.

That's it.

 

[cwelk87gn]

Salvage-thanks a lot!! That was exactly what it was.The grey wire had fatigued at the socket and grounded itself to the bracing. I soldered in a new wire and all the lights work!! Thank you for your help!

 

[NOSjohnWE4]

Dang! This has to be the shortest post on solving an electrical problem. Way to go Allen...BTW, I drove by your favorite restuarant tonight but figured it would be cold by the time I delivered it. wink I may need help with an intermittant headlamp issue. frown

 

[salvageV6]

So I heard.

I was working on putting the race car back together myself over there, that food is good cold too and I'm starving right now.

Glad the electrical problem is fixed, took me a week to find that one and it blew out my twilight sentinel amplifier when it happened one night at SCSU.

Good thing it didn't take the headlights out.

 

[corrupt 6]

since your talking lights,is the switch you push to turn lights on suppose to light up when lights are on???? dunno

 

[salvageV6]

Nope. frown

 

[KENNE-BILL]

On two previous Regals I've owned, the wire for the shifter lightbulb was seperated probably the same way yours was. What I found is the wire was actually cut from rubbing on the edge of the shifter floor mounting bracket (u shaped channel bracket), a sharp burr runs along the bracket edge - a result of shearing during manufacturing. What I did for a fix was install a plastic edge guard on the bracket to protect the wire. HTH.