My dash light will not come on but gauges still work and headlights? is it a short?

10

Asked by Sniperghost Mar 27, 2014 at 11:14 AM about the 2005 Pontiac Sunfire Base

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

i have a 2005 sunfire and i was driving one day then my dash lights, fan lights, and the fog switch all go out but yet my headlights and tailights work fine gauges work good but when i turn my headlights on the dash lights wont come on.  when i turn my car off sometimes they will come back on. someone help for a fix here please

6 Answers

10,815

Check the dimmer switch. It can intermittently knock out your dash lights when it starts to go bad. Replacement dimmer is about $50. Be sure to disconnect the battery before replacing any electrical items.

4 people found this helpful.
10

would that knock the dome light out also? even with the dash lights out i can use the dimmer to turn the dome lights on

1 people found this helpful.
10,815

The dimmer switch has two parts - basically a rheostat to change the dash light brightness, and a simple contact switch to control the dome light. The rheostat goes bad, but the dome light will still work. Try running the dimmer up and down a few times and see if your dash lights work, or flicker.

6 people found this helpful.
10

This is my problem as well. Except it had never worked. Bought it 2 days ago.

1 people found this helpful.

I would check the ground off the battery. The tray will rust in two and you will lose the ground. The dash lights go out the headlights get dim and many other electrical problems begin to show themselves. Wires start melting because the car is trying to find a good enough ground and will use whatever it can find.

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