1981 SC speedo gauge light off when headlight knob in middle position
 

Hey gang! I bought a 1981 SC back in May. It's in great condition but there are a few little things I'm working on (aren't there always?).

Today I noticed that when I move the headlight knob to the middle position (between all the way pushed in and all the way pulled out) the upper light in the speedometer gauge doesn't light up. When I pull the headlight knob all the way out, the light comes on. No problems with any other dash lights. Thoughts? Thanks for the help!

Does your high beam indicator light work? You may just have to swap light fixtures in the gauge.

Mine : with running lights on, the green light at top of my speedo comes on. When I pull the knob out all the way for headlights, the green light goes off. No light in the tach unless I engage high beams. What is the norm?

Norm (mine) is instrument lights illuminate on all instruments (including tach) when light knob is in middle (running lights) OR all the way out (headlights)

If light knob in middle (running lights), green light in the top center of speedometer (?) also illuminates (but tach and other instrument lights stay on)

If high beams on, blue light in middle of tach lights up AND instrument lights stay on -- sounds like the above posters each have a mis-routed wire in their instrument assemblies

You mentioned running lights and high beams - What if your headlights are on, but not high beams - any light on (other than instrument lights)?

No, both green and blue lights off

ok, mine is as above, thanks

Group, I'll have to get back to you next week. Driving home tonight I turned on my high beams and poof! No headlights at all. Sooo... I don't want to divert this thread topic to that but obviously I better figure that out first. My mechanic will have to take care of this one for me. I'm too noob.

Okaaayyy I'm finally back. In case you were wondering, my headlights blew because it was time for a new voltage regulator. Unrelated to my dash light situation.

@darrin thanks for verifying your setup. I was hoping that was how it should act. And your point about when headlights are on, no forward-facing green or blue lights on the speedo/tach definitely reinforces that. For me I have the forward-facing green light in my speedo when my headlights are on. So this should be pretty simple I think. I'll open up the speedometer after this and see what I can do. The right-hand light on my tach also seems to have quit so I'll take care of that too.

Thanks guys!

It may be that the right hand instrument light was switched with the green light.

As noted in other posts, the green light indicates the parking lights/instrument lights are on only, and not the head lights (in other words, the switch is in the middle position.) Once the head lights are on (switch pulled out fully), the green light goes out, instrument lights stay on, and head lights come on.

Take a close look at the side instrument light. Does it come on with the switch in the middle position but go out with the head lights on? If so, it's likely supposed to be the light for the green parking light indicator.