hey,
it has been awhile since i have been on here . I have taken a break, but now i am back to getting the ol' dodge going again.
I noticed i have no dash lights , but my right turn signal works on it.
i changed the headlight switch. i checked the connectors on the back of the dash. the one on the left, if you are looking at the front has 2 hot wires ( a red and a black wire) i take that it is for the gauges, i am not sure.
The round connector, has no hot wires, with switch on and off.
any suggestions is appreciated, oh yeah, it is a 81 dodge D150
Thanks
Dave

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81 Dodge D150
It looked easier in the book .

The red and black wires are for the ammeter, and have nothing to do with any other gauges. They have nothing to do with your dash light problem. Do the other gauges work? Have you checked the light bulbs in the dash? Did changing the headlight switch change anything? (Besides lightening your wallet some.) Do you have a wiring diagram for your truck? You should find 12 volts at one pin on the round connector when the headlight switch is on, two pins when the ignition switch in in "run" and the light switch is on.

That's all I can think of now. I am not familiar with your truck and don't have a Factory Service Manual or a wiring diagram for it. Check the bulbs first, turn the ignition switch on and look for 12 volts on one pin of the round connector, check the fuses (with a meter or test light!!) Sometimes they can look good and not be.

You'll probably find more specific answers in the sweptline.org site, click on the "Forum" button and check the *ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HELP* forum, or try this link.

Good luck!

ATB

BC

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'64 Dart GT convertible, 64 Dart 170 2-door post sedan in faded blue and rust (the Az Dart) & a sixty THREE Dart 170 2-door post sedan in faded blue and rust. (future project)
Early Dart Disorder (EDD) is real, and I've got it!

Did you check the dash light fuse? It is usually a 5 amp fuse and is wired after the dimmer. Not sure on the 81 truck, but it's usually the shortest fuse in the box.

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Mattelderca
78 NYB (gone now), two S series, three old Snow Cruisers and a Doo.

Thanks for the replies.
I was checking the fuses, and found out that one of the wires that goes to the fuse box, had fallen out, and the fuse was only making contact to one side .
now i have lights in my dash . but all of them are not lighting up. I can switch the bulb that is lighting up, in the place of one that is not lighting up, and still not working in that place. all spots for the bulbs light up my test light. anybody have any suggestions, what could be wrong with that ? i had little time to look at it today.
thanks for any replies
Dave

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81 Dodge D150
It looked easier in the book .

I'd bet that the sockets that don't light with known bulbs are either dirty or corroded, or have a broken trace. Disconnect your negative battery cable and pull the instrument cluster.

If your cluster has copper traces from point to point, gently clean the points where the bulb holders make contact. (Don't use steel wool, ultra fine wet or dry sandpaper is my choice) Look for broken spots in the foil traces. Those are easy to repair with a short piece of wire and a little solder with a low wattage soldering iron.

Have you checked out the sweptline.org folks?I'm sure they have specific knowledge that I do not have.

ATB

BC

_________________
'64 Dart GT convertible, 64 Dart 170 2-door post sedan in faded blue and rust (the Az Dart) & a sixty THREE Dart 170 2-door post sedan in faded blue and rust. (future project)
Early Dart Disorder (EDD) is real, and I've got it!

Thanks, I did what you suggested with the sandpaper, and now i have all but the top light on, but all the gauges , speedometer is lit up and the flashers work . The last weird thing i found is that I put the test light on the orange wire on the round connector , and it slowly blinked. I then put a voltmeter on it and it went from 2 or 3 volts to almost zero back and forth , but everything is working good. when i can, i will put some solder on the connector to that wire. it has been quite a few years since i really messed with it, and i think i had to put another connector on it for some reason, and i just crimped it, and it is hard to get to in the dash, so maybe the solder will help the erratic voltage.
I will check out sweptline also.
sorry for so many questions

thanks again
Dave

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81 Dodge D150
It looked easier in the book .

I had to look at a couple of Factory Service Manuals for cars to find a drawing that showed the round connector you mentioned. I found it in my 1963 Dodge car manual. That took over an hour away from my own projects, and didn't get the answers you need.

I've been misdirecting you to sweptline.org. They are for '61 to 71 Dodge trucks. The group you really need to hook up with is here. That's the site for first generation Ram trucks. I'd bet that someone there can answer your questions and/or has wiring diagrams for your 1981 truck.

I'm sorry, but I don't think I can help anymore on a vehicle I don't have manuals or experience with. Good luck!

ATB

BC

_________________
'64 Dart GT convertible, 64 Dart 170 2-door post sedan in faded blue and rust (the Az Dart) & a sixty THREE Dart 170 2-door post sedan in faded blue and rust. (future project)
Early Dart Disorder (EDD) is real, and I've got it!

Thanks again for your suggestions . I am sorry I took you away from your projects. I am glad i can start back on the Dodge again . I just do not have much time to do what I want right now, and it is my good timing to start back in the winter time .
I think I have the dash problems solved, and it still worked after I put it back together , haha.
Thanks
Dave

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81 Dodge D150
It looked easier in the book .