need some help with dimmer switch on my 69 Charger

[snipernuts]

hi All!! well, i'll be on my way home next week finally after 3 months of Ft. Lee, VA fun!!  i've got a 1969 SE Charger.

while i was gone had the front end totally rebuilt, disc brake conversion done as well, my friend that did the work told me the dimmer switch decieded to short out and blew the fuze and i lost all the dash lighting.  is there/are there any new fix for the switch or the voltage limiter in the dash?

any help would be greatly appreciated!!

thanks!!

greg

[nascarxx29]

You can replace the roll dimmer switch or have it rebuilt.
Did the 3  amp fuse on fuse box blow The IVR Instrument voltage regulator is the part that transfers 12 volts to 5 volts for the gauges doesnt power the dash lights.
The dash light power source is coming headlight switch roll dimmer floor high beam dimmer switch
http://www.mymopar.com/downloads/1969/69ChargerA.JPG
http://www.mymopar.com/downloads/1969/69ChargerB.JPG


http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,61816.msg689438/topicseen.html#msg689438

[hemi68charger]

Remember the lights in the area of the printed circuit board run are not part of the voltage limiter circuit other using it for a common ground. If you have no dash lights, ie around the clock/tach/speedometer area, then all the orange wire light circuit isn't getting any juice. So, you might just have a blown fuse, a short somewhere or like your friend stated, a bad dimmer switch.............

[snipernuts]

i'm gonna tear out the dash when i get back.  i heard of someone jumping out the connectors on the dimmer switch, just so the dash lights stay on, instead of trying to find a NOS or sending out the switch for rebuild, but i can't find out what pins to jump out, any ideas?

thanks!!
greg

[elacruze]

Tan wire from center blade (vertical) on instrument dimmer wheel powers 3a fuse to instrument, radio and A/C switch lamps. You can splice in any 12v source, but your lights will be full bright all the time. (I have a '68, double check your service manual for colors if different)

I put LEDs in mine, which don't dim so my faulty rheostat isn't important.

<edit>

The easiest thing to do would be make a jumper wire from one of the switched fuses to the 3a in the fuse box. Be sure you jump only the source side, not the fused side.

[nascarxx29]

I bypassed my roll switch same manner tapped into the tan and got power from headlight switch .Changed the 158 bulbs to 194 alot brighter .Also make sure the small  black headed cluster screws are making a good ground.If you use different screws that go around the instrument cluster mounting hole.Instead of inside as originals .It may not make a good ground 

[snipernuts]

has anyone tried one of the repro dimmer switches on ebay?  just wondering if it would just be easier to replace it or maybe had the dimmer rebuilt?

if worse comes to worse, i'll do the jumper on it.

thanks for all you help guys!

as soon as i get back home, i'm tearing into it!!!