Dash Lights - do we have them?

[searya]

This is a really dumb question, but I just bought a 1984 Azzurra took it out at night and noticed I couldn't see the speedometer, tach etc as there was no lights (headlights were on).

Should there be lights? If so do they come on automatically with the headlights or is there a trick I am clueless about.

Thanks,

Sean
St. Louis

[aj81spider]

Yes there are dash lights, and yes they should come on with your headlights.

[nibbes123]

Check your dimmer switch . Mite be turned down or not working at all.

[searya]

Thanks! Turned out to be the dimmer switch. As embarrassing as it is it was turned all the way down.

Now onto figuring out the digital clock that worked yesterday. Probably an on off switch for that too

[Odoyle]

I'm interested to see what you find wrt to digit clock, as mine doesn't work as well, and have yet to explore the root cause.

[RRoller123]

Many of us connect the two wires across the dimmer switch and thereby bypass it, which brightens the dash lights somewhat. Leaves the switch in place, and it is easily reversible. Dim dash lights are a very common complaint with these cars.

[searya]

Thanks for all the replies.

On the related clock topic I was thrilled to find out that the first thing I tried fixed it....checked the fuses and found that the first fuse on the left was blown. New fuse and I was back in business, including clock and windshield wipers.

On a side note to this side note, I also noticed that the second fuse from the left wasn't secured real well. I bent the fuse springs so it held tight and that fixed my intermittent problem with the gauges (oil pressure, speed, tach) not working!

That likely burns up all my good luck on fixing things!