Dash lights issue

[1969chargerrtse]

Since I got my Charger the dash lamps didn't work.  I got out the Wiring diagram from www.classiccarwiring.com and found that if I jumped out the brown wire to the black wire on the plug to the switch the dash lit up.  This tells me the "Panel light switch" is open or just not working.  Would you agree and how hard is it to replace?  I think I have seen this part on threads before and people repaired them, telling me they are either not available or very expensive?   Whatch think? 

[JimShine]

I found a spot on my switch where the lights worked. I had to slowly roll it until I hit that sweet spot. On Lee1, I cleaned the coil. I used a fine abrasive cloth on it (called micromesh) and got it working better. But it still was far from perfect.

[1969chargerrtse]

I found a spot on my switch where the lights worked. I had to slowly roll it until I hit that sweet spot. On Lee1, I cleaned the coil. I used a fine abrasive cloth on it (called micromesh) and got it working better. But it still was far from perfect.

Well, I had tried rolling and rolling but nothing, so jumping it out makes the lamps work so I would think thats the issue?  Does it come out from the front or behind?

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

It screws in from the back to the metal frame of the cluster......since your car is an AC  car, the duct work is in the way....even a non-AC car would have trouble accessing it while the cluster is in the car.

Before I got my NOS switch, I blobbed a bit of solder on the end of the contact wheel to make the lights full bright all the time....I dont see yourself "dimming" the already dim dash lights any time soon.

If you want to turn the dome light on open the door!

[1969chargerrtse]

It screws in from the back to the metal frame of the cluster......since your car is an AC  car, the duct work is in the way....even a non-AC car would have trouble accessing it while the cluster is in the car.

Before I got my NOS switch, I blobbed a bit of solder on the end of the contact wheel to make the lights full bright all the time....I dont see yourself "dimming" the already dim dash lights any time soon.

If you want to turn the dome light on open the door!

Thanks for your advise, but you give me an aweful lot of  's 

[Charger-Bodie]

 

[1969chargerrtse]

         What?

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

I concur.....

[1969chargerrtse]

    

[Plumcrazy]

I sent mine to Performance car graphics.  For something like $8 they cleaned it and got it working like new.

[1969chargerrtse]

I sent mine to Performance car graphics.  For something like $8 they cleaned it and got it working like new.

Oh, cool.  Thanks.

[68hemi]

There was a article in the October 2007 edition of Mopar Action Magazine, page 62, where they explain how to take the dimmer switch apart and fix the things causing the switch to work inproperly.  Basically, you clean all the contacts and you may need to solder in a jumper wire between coil that the dimmer circuit works on and the switch circuit that the coil end attaches to.  The reason the dimmer sometimes doesn't work is the coil has a poor contact point.  Doing this allows you to turn on the interior lights.  Every since I worked on my switch as shown in the article, it works great.  It didn't work well for the previous 20 years.
     By the way, Mopar Action magazine has great tech articles.  Go to their web site at MoparAction.com to see some. 

[Shakey]

I sent mine out to be re-chromed and rebuilt.

There is a thread somewhere with some before and after photos.

Dash switches may be the key words when trying to search.

[Shakey]

Here it is:

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,28338.0.html

[1969chargerrtse]

Great thread thanks.