So, first of all I have 1996 2500 with the 360 Magnum.

Problem:
I have no illumination for my gauges and the cluster that controls the fan stuff. I have an aftermarket stereo deck and it works just fine. I have checked fuses and they are all good.

Let me give a little background that might help diagnose the problem. I had a problem with the head lights turning off when the steering wheel was tilted down. The head lights would only work when the steering wheel was tilted completely up. I could literally move the steering wheel down and the lights would turn off and then tilt back up and they would turn back on. I looked around and found that a wire had pulled out of the multi position/ function switch. It would only make connection when the steering wheel was at full tilt.

Although, before I had fixed that is when the dash lights went out. I was showing a friend what was happening with the lights and when I tilted the wheel down is when the dash lights went out... of course I said.. well shi... and they have never come back on since.

I have a multi-meter and have poked and prodded to no avail. Does anyone have any ideas or a wiring diagram they could post?

Thanks

 

Sounds like you got some pinched or broken wires in the steering column. Wish i could help you more but i havent had to get into mine.....yet

 

Yea that's what I was thinking since it happened when I was moving the wheel. But I have torn apart my dash 5 times tracing wires back. I have traced back from the gauges themselves, the dimmer/ headlight switch, and wires from the multi position switch..

 

Are you getting cluster light power out of the headlight switch?

 

I am not sure. I went through and tried figuring out what wires did what, but I didn't get anywhere. I made this snazzy chart that didn't help one bit.. But let me show you what I did. Since the headlight switch has several positions I went through and tested the currents at different positions

Wire Color........Connector Disconnected......Half Pull(connector plugged in).......Full Pull(headlights on/connector plugged in)

Pink/Blue.........12V.........12V........12V
Tan/Orange.....0V...........0V..........0V
Green.............0V...........0V..........12V
Black/Yellow....0V...........12V........12V
Peach/Red.......12V........12V.........12V
Green/White.....12V........12V.........12V
Red/Green........12V........12V........12V
Blue................12V.........0V..........0V
Black/Blue........0V...........0V..........0V

I hope that makes sense on what I did... I thought it would help identify what wire did what. So with that, I could find if the unit was making the connection to send the current to the dash lights.. but still don't know which wire controls the dash light on the headlight switch

 

96 Service manual is available for download in the faq section. (service manual thread.)

It looks like cluster illumination is powered from the tan/orange wire from pin 1 on the headlight switch. (yeah, the one showing zero volts for you.....)

That one is powered from the Pink/Red wire.... (you have it listed as Peach/Red I think.) Looks like a bad headlight switch.

 

Well I'm glad that chart helped someone. You were absolutly right, I changed that out and sure enough it worked. Thanks for all the help again HeyYou

 

I need to find a way to get paid for this.

 

Preferred payment method is beer of course!