[burchdog32]

I have seen many threads that get close to the same issue, however, not quite the same thing I have (or maybe it is).

I have the following symptoms on my 304 '76 CJ7 I just bought (I love this thing, but it is already making me have to learn a lot of stuff I know nothing about):

1. When I turn on the lights (no dash lights come on, makes it really hard to drive at night).

2. If I turn the light knob to the far right nothing (dash lights should get brighter, but they never come on). When I turn it to the far left, it clicks and then 2 lights do come on under the dash (far left driver side, and far right passenger side). Are these two lights grounded by something else?

3. My volt meter and oil pressure do work (but no back light).

4. My gas guage and temp guage do not work.

5. My speedometer does work, but no back lights. Is the actual speedo not electric?

6. I have an AC unit that is in the way of everything, so this is not as simple as it could be to just see if there is a ground connected. If all of the above points to a ground issue, how hard is it to move the AC unit to get to all this stuff? Has anyone done this, is it as simple as just unscrewing it, or do I need to disconnect hoses and a bunch of other stuff?

I have seen other thread saying this could be the actual light switch, but if that is the case, wouldn't the lights under the dash not work, and why would that effect my temp and gas guage?


Thanks in advance!!

[jeepdaddy2000]

The light problem is most likely the light switch. The interior lights run on a variable rheostat and these are prone to going bad. This problem has nothing to do with the temp/fuel gauge failure, which is probably caused by a bad fuel gauge(the voltage regulstor is in this gauge). Do a search, as this problem has been posted to death.

[JarWithLid]

In regards to gauges: Check your fuses. Near the bottom right hand corner of your fuse box will be a slot for something like "IGN LIGHTS" or something like that. When my fuel and temp gauge went out, this fuse was blown. Oil pressure and Volts still worked b/c they were incorrectly out of said circuit. Maybe you have the same situation.

Like JD2k said, lights are most likely the light switch.

[cj5mike]

x2 with the above advise. My old dimmer switch worked most of the time, but you had to play with it to get the dash lights on. I installed a new light switch yesterday and now they work with ease. While the old switch was an off/on situation, now the dash lights actually dim . I purchased it @ the local parts store for about $25.00. The jeep is a "75" but i think the same switch was used through "78".

Also, the oil gauge did not wot work, but thankfully the wires were not connected to the terminals on the gauge. That was an easy fix. Goodluck!

[valkadesh]

Agree. The dash light problem is most likely the dimmer switch, but I'd check all your fuses just make sure, that could easily be the problem as well.

If that doesn't work with a new switch, start tracing the orange "power" wire and make sure it isn't cut and frayed anywhere, that should be providing power to all the gauge lights.

Good luck!

[burchdog32]

Thanks for the responses. I just went and bought the switch for $15, however, on the drive home, I was thinking why would the two lights under the dash still work when I turn the switch to left, if the switch is bad?

Would it still make sense that the switch is bad (not getting any panel lights when it is on and turning it to the right), even though my lights work underneath the dash when I turn the switch to the left?

I checked all the fuses and they looked good.

Just want to make sure that something else would not indicate the problem has nothing to do with the switch... before I start going down that path of taking out the old one and put in the new one...

I still haven't checked the ground wires, nor the actual bulbs themselves as the AC unit is in the way and I would prefer to not have to move it if this is a switch issue.

Something else that I think I left out is that the emergency brake light and the blinker lights work. Not sure if that helps eliminate anything to the cause. I am guessing this is either the switch, a ground issue, or the lights have all burned out.

Let me know what you guys think as I will be attempting to fix this in the next few days and will let you know once I get it working.

[burchdog32]

It turned out to be the light switch!! I thought I was in for hours of work connecting individual wires to the switch, however, once I looked up to remove the old switch, I realized it had a nice little ready made plug! Who said CJs are not high tech?

Anyway, I now have dash lights, except for my volt and oil pressure (the bulbs must be burnt out). After the time invested and the feeling I got when I saw the dash lights come on pretty much made that $15 a damn good investment.

Thanks for the help!!!

[John Strenk]

Do your gauges work?

[burchdog32]

No... I was wrong about the temp guage (it does work, but I don't think it had anything to do with the dimmer switch). The gas guage still does not work.

That is the next issue to attack.

[Trapshooter]

Hopefully, you just have a bad fuel quanity sender back in the tank. The bad news is you have to drop the tank.

There has been a ton of posts about troubleshooting the fuel quan. system in this forum. One of the members, John is his first name, I forgot his last name, has posted an entire troubleshooting guide for guages on the CJ.

I don't have the links on this computer but will post them later when I can switch to my other computer.

Good Luck..........

[Bluegrassfan]

My fuel gauge didn't work. Had to replace the fuel tank due to rust and gound the ground wire broken. New fuel tank had a new ground wire, attached it, and now it works fine. Ground wire is attached to a rear frame cross member in front to which the front of the fuel tank is attached.

[Mr. Corrosion]

I had the same problem, turns out after paint the actual dash wasn't grounding to the tub. However, due to not having a ground the fuel and temp guages are toast.