Let there be light...please

**mongo** · 09-01-2009

Hey guys, My son drove my 2000 GP GT last night. He mentioned the frt headlights dont work (NOT THE BULBS). Then the dash lights dont work, nothing but the normal idiot lights that cycle during start up.
I have checked as many fuses and relays as I could find, incl the park brake. Can anyone say they have had this problem...or an idea I may not have thought of.

Thank you

mongo

**BoostJunki3** · 09-01-2009

not saying your incompitent but the dimmer is not adjusted all the way down right?

**Thunderturd** · 09-01-2009

Very easy thing to over look ^^

**mongo** · 09-02-2009

Originally Posted by BoostJunki3

not saying your incompitent but the dimmer is not adjusted all the way down right?

No problem, I hold several mechanics licences, its just that I am a military mechanic, no dimmer switch in a tank (well yeah there is but not the same)
Unless I owned it I probably never worked on it...
That is why I am asking, I understand too much, got no book, and never worked on it...
I am thinking of the master light switch, and checking it with a meter, other than that and some other visuals I am almost done, without a having a book.

thanks

**BoostJunki3** · 09-02-2009

so the dimmer is not adjusted all the way down right?

**Thunderturd** · 09-02-2009

Update after dimmer switch?

**Mad Monkey** · 09-02-2009

incase you dont know where the dimmer is, it is on the left of the steering wheel below he gauge cluster.
i hit mine all the time getting in and out and wonder sometimes why my interior lights arnt on at night lol then i remember...

**mongo** · 09-03-2009

the dimmer switch has been ruled out. EO, lights on (manualy) no head lights, or dash lights...I placed a towel over the photo sensor and they still didnt come on.
I pulled both lamps and they passed, as did the new spare bulb I installed as a control. I dont even get the high beam indicator light and it is brilliant blue when on.

thanks

**Mad Monkey** · 09-03-2009

maybe a light control fuse??

**mongo** · 09-03-2009

Originally Posted by Mad Monkey

maybe a light control fuse??

okay, I looked in the glove box and the eng comp, right inner fender. I looked and used my meter to test all fuses. nothing burnt. Are there any other locations for fuses I dont know? Is there one in the light switch.
I only have so much time to work on it during the week, as most of you will understand.

So if you have a bunch of ideas send them this way, the garage is waiting for her and I have nothing to do but get lights back on before fall/winter, when we need headlights in October...at lunch

**Mad Monkey** · 09-03-2009

as far as i know, glove and hood is all..

if its ALL lights, interior and exterior then its gotta be something crazy stupid like a relay or something.. very odd..

**mongo** · 09-03-2009

not quite all lights, I am going to do a compl check on what is and what is not working. But I am most certainly starting with the master light switch, park brake, DRL...

**Mad Monkey** · 09-03-2009

keep us updated.

**mongo** · 09-03-2009

Originally Posted by Mad Monkey

as far as i know, glove and hood is all..

if its ALL lights, interior and exterior then its gotta be something crazy stupid like a relay or something.. very odd..

oops, yep checked the one in the glove box it was closed when tested.

**offroadfury6** · 09-04-2009

Originally Posted by mongo

No problem, I hold several mechanics licences, its just that I am a military mechanic, no dimmer switch in a tank (well yeah there is but not the same)
Unless I owned it I probably never worked on it...
That is why I am asking, I understand too much, got no book, and never worked on it...
I am thinking of the master light switch, and checking it with a meter, other than that and some other visuals I am almost done, without a having a book.

thanks

i'm a army truck driver in a support company and there are dimmer's for blackout drive and such. should be the same for bradleys and M1A1's. just throwing 2 cents in there haha...

good luck hope u fixed the problem, too lazy to read all the comments. i woulda suggested a fuse

**mongo** · 09-04-2009

Originally Posted by offroadfury6

i'm a army truck driver in a support company and there are dimmer's for blackout drive and such. should be the same for bradleys and M1A1's. just throwing 2 cents in there haha...

good luck hope u fixed the problem, too lazy to read all the comments. i woulda suggested a fuse

Leopard C1 MBT has the high low beams on the floor. The other light are similiar to the M113.

**BoostJunki3** · 09-04-2009

if the parking brake was partially engaged.... the lights your talking about wouldnt be on either just thought of that....your parking brake could be partially engaged and the dash indicator for the PB is out....

**skidoojames151** · 09-05-2009

hey yea thats actually ^^^^^ a highly possible thing...your son sets the parking brake and forgets...sounds logical...and all symptoms sound like parking brake on...who wants to bet money???

**DanGTP** · 09-05-2009

But if the headlights come on by themselves, then that's not the problem. The parking brake triggers the headlights off, which keeps the dash lights off as well. When you manually turn on the headlights, the dash lights come on with them.
I had a guy come in yesterday with the same problem in a Regal GS. It ended up being his dimmer switch had gone out. The radio and climate controls would black out, along with the dash lights not coming on, when the headlights came on, and adjusting the dimmer did nothing. He replaced the switch, and all was well.

**BoostJunki3** · 09-08-2009

Originally Posted by DanGTP

But if the headlights come on by themselves, then that's not the problem. The parking brake triggers the headlights off, which keeps the dash lights off as well. When you manually turn on the headlights, the dash lights come on with them.
I had a guy come in yesterday with the same problem in a Regal GS. It ended up being his dimmer switch had gone out. The radio and climate controls would black out, along with the dash lights not coming on, when the headlights came on, and adjusting the dimmer did nothing. He replaced the switch, and all was well.

Originally Posted by mongo

the dimmer switch has been ruled out. EO, lights on (manualy) no head lights, or dash lights...I placed a towel over the photo sensor and they still didnt come on.
I pulled both lamps and they passed, as did the new spare bulb I installed as a control. I dont even get the high beam indicator light and it is brilliant blue when on.

thanks

^^^