Headlights?!

[IROCn85]

Hey guys I'm new to the forum, I thought someone might be able to help me out. I have an 85 IROC Z with a TPI. My problem is that the headlights and interior lights are all not working. The only time any of the lights work is if I put a blinker or the hazards on. Then the appropriate lights come on. I tried looking into the fusible links down by the starter already. They are good. The guy I got the car from said he already replaced the headlight switch. *I'm thinking he may have messed that up though.* Are there any other quick fix Idea's out there or am I just going to have to tear into the dash? Any advice would help. Thanks!

[FTA1995]

Thats strange,
Check every ground you can find,
Get up a picture or two when this happens.

[Knucklehead]

Do the other lights come on and stay on when you turn on the directional signals, or do they just blink along with the flashers? I'm assuming that they just flash. If so, you have two likely causes: miswiring the light switch, or (as noted) bad grounds. In neither case should it be necessary to tear into the dash unless the previous owner did some rewiring under there. If so, it might be worth it to pull the light swich out and check if all the wires appear to be connected to a contact. It's been a while since I've had my dash out, but my recollection is that there's a single plug on the light switch, which would make it kinda hard to miswire it. GM usually uses black wires for ground and red for hot.

Skip
70 SS350, 77, 89 IROC-Z, 95 Z-28

[IROCn85]

Turns out after a bit of troubleshooting. The headlight switch had no juice going to it. The port in the firewall where the external wiring meets the Internal wiring had a bad connection. Everything works now! Just going to have to replace a few old bulbs. Turns out the Haynes manual had the whole removing the speedo cable a bit backwards though...You would have to have midget hands to reach behind the cluster from the dash pad. I had to go up under the dash.

[FTA1995]

Thats why i'm glad i have midget hands.

[IROCn85]

I sure couldn't reach behind there. I think I have a short speedo cable or something. It barely came out at all till I could get the cable off. Next project will probably be the thermostat... coolant temp is a little up and down.

[FTA1995]

A little up and down?

Could be an air bubble in the head, the temp sender is in the head on a 3rd gen still i think.

[FroSSty]

I sure couldn't reach behind there. I think I have a short speedo cable or something. It barely came out at all till I could get the cable off. Next project will probably be the thermostat... coolant temp is a little up and down.

My 86 Camaro was that way too. I think they are all a little too short.