9.7 volts to dash lites???

[icanfixall]

So.. Is this normal for the dash lites to have this low voltage or do I have a problem somewhere... Maybe the main lite switch is getting sad from working....

 

[reklund]

Are you measuring the voltage before or after the dimmer switch?

 

[icanfixall]

I tested the system at the plug where the 194 bulb sits so I'm guessing thats after the dimmer switch??? I'm not very smart when it comes to electrical issues but let it suck-pop blows & goes and I'll make it better.

 

[Agnem]

The dimmer switch does have a set of contacts (I think that make when you have the dimmer knob rotated all the way to bright. They may be pitted. You could find out easily enough by bypassing the switch, and just running a jumper temporarily from the battery to the lighting trace on the dash. In either case, it probably means a new light switch.

 

[riphip]

When I measured voltage on mine in the past (ended up replacing #194s for #168s for brightness) it was 11.1v turned all the way up. The original #194s are dim in the '85 & '86s.

Rick

 

[RedTruck]

If it's a bad light switch, I'd find one from the dealer. I just put a new light switch in...then another (different manufacturer)...and it needs another...all jobber switches. The motion in the switch is horrible. It feels like there is sand in the rotating assembly, and the push pull action doesn't feel like it makes a positive contact. I did replace the melted light switch connector with a jobber one that is pretty good though.

Good luck.

Paul

 

[SparkandFire]

Mel, I think the contacts you speak of are for the cab and bed light.

I have a schematic I can scan if that would help.

 

[Agnem]

Schematics are in my albums also. I wasn't talking about the dome light switch. There is a position just before that and it doesn't make a click or anything. It may just be part of the reostat. I'm not sure.

 

[SparkandFire]

The "dead position" on the rheostat where the wiper is not contacting any part of the winding, but the terminal itself, "should" give you full voltage.

The gold plated contact on the wiper might be worn down, i think there is nickel underneath it, which would give high resistance readings.