78 nova cluster issues

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cnova78

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I have a 78 nova base 6 fly and I been having problems with my lights which narrowed down to be that I have cluster issues.. I swapped the bulbs and came to the conclusion that the cluster electronic lens in the back of the cluster is bad. I got a replacement from a 75 nova but my question is once u take the bulbs out u can move the cluster lens won't move any further because there is 3 metal braces holding it on now how do I get those off.
 
Are you sure the cluster was the problem and not a bad dimmer switch? I'm pretty sure that on a car of that vintage, it still had the old rheostat style dimmer and those things do get hot and burn out over time.
 
Reason iswhen I turn the headlights on the cluster doesnt light up and the blinkers Dont work. The only thing lights up on the dash is the left blinker. When the headlights are off everything on the dash works .
 
That sounds to me like a defective headlight switch, but I'm not a mechanic, so you need some other feedback from someone that knows.
 
Just a word to the wise...

When there is some indecision about exactly what will resolve the problem, it's better to just replace ONE component at a time. Check the results, and if it did or didn't complicate things (create new problems), go to the next.

Experience talking here :eek:
 
Yea your right if you check my old forums I has having problems with the blinks and exterior lights in general cleaned all the grounds... Something told me swap the bulbs out on the cluster and since I did that all the exterior ones work except the front left corner light it only gets 2v instead of 12 when the headlights are on so I'm swap out the headlight switch
 
I've been jerking on wrenches since the mid 50's, and I've never seen SO many problems related to weak grounds. I have run additional grounds on numerous occasions, just to supplement the system in any way I could. And, I tell a little joke on myself...


I inadvertently grounded a Fibrerglass Fenderwell once,
Didn't help my electrical problem, but it stopped a rattle. :D
 
Ok so I swapped out the head light switch same results when the headlights are on no blinkers. So I swapped out the hi beam same results while taking off the new head light switch I think I blew the fuse for the headlights cuz when I turn the head lights on the interior lights dont work. I checkedbthe fuse for the headlights couldn't. Find it which one is it
 
Did you disconnect your battery ground when you replaced the switch? If so, then it sounds like you've got a bare wire somewhere that's going to ground. I had an old 66 C-10 once that had a short somewhere that I never found. It would cause the fuel gauge to sweep back and forth like a metronome whenever I would use the turn signals.
 
I usually do. This time I got lazy. What fuse is it its not labeled on the fuse box. The service manual says its 20a
 
you dont have an owners manual? Arent they glass fuses, you cannt see a break?
 
So I put the fuse in headlights work. so when I turn the headlights on the hi beam bulb comes on and the left blinker in the dash . so I put all new bulbs in the cluster I'm just gonna take them out and recheck.I have a new cluster I might just swap it out tho
 
So I pulled the dash and plugged the other cluster I had and when I plug the cluster up all works except when I turn the head lights on the left blinker on the cluster lights up and the blinkers don't work
 
you have checked the headlight ground connections?
 
It was a bad fuse for the cluster lights and for when I turn the headlights on they still don't work . I redid all the grounds on the HL I'm try and make it on a more solid piece of wood
 
What's the wood for? Wood doesn't conduct electricity and won't work for a ground.
 
Im sort I meant metal I was looking for a piece of wood to prop the steering wheel up cuz I loosened the lower support to pull the dash out and I typed wood when I was looking for it . lol
 
Here's the update head lights on no blinkers. I signal left the front corner (drivers) blink and front blinkers (passengers) blink signal right no problems . also I took the front corners light out the wiring no change. Took the right front blinker out and the same results . one thing has me puzzled on the corner lights the book says positive is brown and blue is negitve. The car and thinks differently. I put it to a voltmeter and test light that's what I got the opposite of what the book says any suggestions
 
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