Was trying to get my instrument cluster lights to work this weekend with no success. According to the FSM there is a tan wire from the headlight switch that is supposed to feed 12v to two orange wires, one for instrument cluster and the other for the push button selector light. Problem is I never get 12v on this tan wire, Not only that but when I took the headlight switch completely apart I don't see how power is transferred to this terminal. Pulling the knob out does not appear to move any of the internal contacts so that they make a connection with the terminal for the tan wire. Am I missing something here? Can I just pull power from the wire that feeds my headlights to also feed my instruments?

Thanks,
Jeff

Sorry, this is a '64 Signet convertible

No sure of the wire colors since I don't have my diagrams in front of me, but those lights should be fed by the variable resistor on the switch (the white round looking thing with a coil of wire running thru it. That portion of the switch may be bad. You should be able to check it with an ohm meter for an open circuit.

-James

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Yeah, checked that. I cleaned the wiper that runs on that coil and have continuity thru the whole thing, just can't figure out where it's supposed to pick up power from since it doesn't seem to contact anything inside the switch.

Jeff

The dimmer ought to get its power via a fuse, not from the same feed for the rest of the headlight switch. First, verify all that all the fuses are OK and making contact; often, old fuses just stop making good contact; taking them out, cleaning the contacts and fuse, and putting them back fixes them.

With the switch out of the car, you ought to be able to easily determine which pins connect to the dimmer with a multimeter and alo verify that there is continuity through the dimmer with the switch out of the car. If that's OK, check that power is getting to one contact on the light switch connector, then check for some resistance to ground (10-100 ohms) on the other connector.

Good Luck