im having trouble with my dash and dome lights they wont turn on and all my fuses are good. any suggestions?

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225 Slant Six [Super Six]

The rheostat inside the head light switch is shot. Time for a new switch.

you think that's it? because it hadn't been working for a while and one time they came on and when i turned it off and then back on it stopped working again> what does a rheostat look like?

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225 Slant Six [Super Six]

and my head lights still go on

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225 Slant Six [Super Six]

A rheostat looks like a coil spring that a contact rides on...it varies resistance in a circute (dash lights) to make them dim or brighten. When you turn the switch on, the dome light should come on. You should be able to feel a slight detent. To be honest, the last rheostat I looked at was in my '70 Fury, and the dimmer for the dash lights/dome light switch was seperate from the head light switch. The headlight switch in A and B bodys have the dimmer/dome light switch built in. I don't know if they are even servicible.

The headlight portion of the switch is separate from the dash/instrument light portion of the switch.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Hi! I'm a new member and also have this problem with the headlight switch on my '72 Dart Swinger Deluxe. The dome light and headlights work but no dash lights! Is there any place besides a junk yard to find a replacement? Great site and lots of info!! Thanks! Bill

Welcome on the board. A new headlamp switch can be had in the NAPA-Echlin or Standard/BlueStreak line — just find a parts store that stocks one of those lines and you'll be able to get a nice new switch.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I am having the same exact problem in my duster. I tried getting a new gauge cluster, and that didn't work. Neither did new lights. You can try to get a new head light switch like I did, but if you are having the same prob as me, it won't work.

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'74 Duster 225 Super Six w/904
14" Cragar SS wheels

Hey, now — let's keep in mind that the same symptom can be caused by a lot of different problems. It's no use telling the new guy his fix is doomed to failure when the cause of his problem could very well be totally different to the cause of yours, and you're not there to diagnose his car for him.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

True, sorry. My Bad. Ive just run into so many dead ends with this problem. I can't figure out the cause. I was just simply saying what happened to me.

I need help badly with this same problem, but when I try to explain it, no one gets what im saying. I drive every night with a blacked out dash, and its getting quite annoying.

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'74 Duster 225 Super Six w/904
14" Cragar SS wheels

You're saying you replaced the whole instrument cluster, dash light bulbs, and light switch, but the dash still doesn't light up? Sounds like your problem lies elsewhere in the electrical system. Have you checked your fuses?

Looks like you need to spend some quality time with your favorite test light or multi-test tool.

Jerry

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There's a difference between ignorance and stupidity.
Ignorance is not knowing any better.
Stupidity is knowing, yet doing it anyway.

Yep, light bulbs, fuses, light switch, everything. I tried to use a testlight, but my wires are so tangled up and wrapped in electrical tape, I couldn't trace anything.

The wierd thing was, that for a short time after my dash lights went out, my gear selector light still worked, and then that went out.

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'74 Duster 225 Super Six w/904
14" Cragar SS wheels

Just start at point zero and work back from there. Use your test light and touch the pins on the back of the circuit board and switch. No reading? Then go back further on the wires and test there. Keep tracing the wires further and further back until you get a reading. Then you'll find your open circuit or short. Your test light is your best friend when it comes to finding the real problem instead of just popping parts in and out.

i am also having a dome light problem... it doesnot work...all of my other lights do however work? any ideas on what it might be? i did replace the fuses and bulbs.. all are working properply!