No running lights or dash illumination

[PROESLER]

Running lights and dashboard lights not working.

Both drivers and passenger side running lights do not work

All of the dash illumination lights do not work

turn signals do work

headlights do work.

brake lights do work

Have checked and fuses are ok.

Is it possible that the light switch has gone bad?

Other things I can check?

[SpyderMike]

Describing it in a simplistic way, power goes from the ignition switch to the headlight switch to bulkhead connector to the fuse panel to the bulbs to local grounds. You need to follow the path.

You could check power coming into the top of the fuses at the panel first. That tells you that your problem is prior to that or after that.

Given that all lights don't work, it could be the ignition switch. It has an electrical connector on the back which distributes most of the power in the car based on key position:

understanding the ignition switch

[RSBob]

Yes the main light switch could be bad. You can tell by moving the non working wires/ lights to the ones which are working. There are wiring diagrams in the "How to" articles at the top most window.

[PROESLER]

Thank you Mike and Bob, will check those ideas out.

Pat

[86 911 Targa]

Originally Posted by PROESLER

Thank you Mike and Bob, will check those ideas out.

Pat

And please don't forget to fuse your dash lights with a 3A fuse.

See pic.

Good luck,

Gerry







Also, fuse your front condenser blower.

Good luck,

Gerry

[PROESLER]

Myself and a friend spent quite a bit of time today tracing down the wiring. We pulled the light switch. We had 12V on terminal 75, but not on 30. We moved the wire from 75 to terminal 30 and the running lights then did work.

We then traced to the ignition switch and that is where we got stumped. The wring that comes off the terminal 30 of the light switch traces up through the bottom of the steering column. We are not getting power from the light switch to the ignition switch. The ignition switch seems to be working, so we are thinking there is a problem in the wiring between the switches but we cannot find the short.

Any ideas? Does the wiring that goes up through the steering column have a "weak spot" that we should focus on?

Thanks!

Pat

[86 911 Targa]

Originally Posted by PROESLER

Myself and a friend spent quite a bit of time today tracing down the wiring. We pulled the light switch. We had 12V on terminal 75, but not on 30. We moved the wire from 75 to terminal 30 and the running lights then did work.

We then traced to the ignition switch and that is where we got stumped. The wring that comes off the terminal 30 of the light switch traces up through the bottom of the steering column. We are not getting power from the light switch to the ignition switch. The ignition switch seems to be working, so we are thinking there is a problem in the wiring between the switches but we cannot find the short.

Any ideas? Does the wiring that goes up through the steering column have a "weak spot" that we should focus on?

Thanks!

Pat

^^^^^
Hope this helps.

Best,

Gerry

[SpyderMike]

If it is a broken/damaged wire, then run a new large gauge wire from 30 close to the ignition switch to 30 on the light switch and call it a day? I don't recall that large gauge 30 red wire running up to the steering column...just a short run to the light switch. Before doing that, you might pull the electrical section off the back of the ignition switch and visually check it - verify integrity of the 30 contacts, and check for continuity there.