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Cadillac Repair/What would I need to do If my dashboard lights dont work.

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Expert: - 11/12/2008


Question
I just bought this 1990 Cadillac DeVille and I was wondering what do I need to do to fix the dashboard lights. My speedometer don't show up and neither does my gas tank lights. We put new fuses in it but it still don't work. What should I do?

Answer
Hello Ashley,

There is more than one fuse panel in this vehicle. You need to look at your owners manual for locations. From what you indicate, I would be checking the "Guage" fuse.
In the event all fuses are good, the problem may be more detailed such as a loose connector at the firewall bulkhead or at the speedo assembly. You might even have a bad speedo assembly.
The proper way to check a fuse is either with a test light to each end with the key on or a ohm meter across the blades of the fuse with it removed. It is not always obvious by using the human eye to see a bad fuse.


Good Luck,


Rob

Cadillac Repair

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Rob Painter

Expertise

Alarm system questions cannot be answered on this forum. These systems are not what I can answer. Without being physically at the vehicle and not knowing what kind of electrical service has been done on the vehicle, there is no possible way to give an accurate answer over the internet. My expertise is in Ignition/key based anti-theft systems. These issues include GM VATS (resistor chip in key blade) PASSLOCK (MRD)-ignition lock rotation based, no special ignition key and the PKIII Transponder (computer chip in key) systems. These systems are not alarm based and are integral with the starting of the engine. This is why I cannot diagnose alarm problems without physically looking at the vehicle: Alarm systems are a completely different annimal than ignition key/lock based anti-theft system. Many alarm questions come from vehicles 10 years old, and since older, many hands that had been involved over the years.I am an expert in all GM factory (ignition/key based)systems. Alarm system questions pose to many situations beyond my knowledge as to what has been done to the vehicle over the years. Some guy may have actually wired the stereo into the alarm system. Who knows? Over my past 30 years in vehicle wiring repair, I have seen unbelievable wiring disaters done by guys that consider themselves "mechanics." I have seen stereos and alarms intalled using surgical tape. I have seen modules burn up, un-fused circuits, wiring jambed between the doors and even lamp cord used for a starter kill. To answer alarm questions over the internet without examining the vehicle is like asking; What does it take to remove a dent?

Experience

Education/Credentials-ASE certified. 11 years with a GM dealer and 17 years with a repair facility dealing with only the repair of theft recovered vehicles.

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