The Instrument Dash Panel lights were all working. The Parking Lights and Headlights are still working, as is my Glovebox light and Clock light, but the Gauge Cluster and twin lights for the Heater Controls panel is now not working, and they had been previously. My manual shows that these should ALL be going through the same Fuse with the Exterior lights. The Illumination intensity **** was working before. This car only has 83,680 miles on it.
Is there some separate Fusible Link for this, and if so, where is it hidden on the car?

TIA
Chris

 

Are you sure the dimmer **** is ok? If it lost connection that would knock down the console lights. Not sure the dimmer affects console on an 85.

 

I had another Dimmer Switch from a parts car I had taken things from and tried it and still was unable to get them to come on again. Just thinking that there must be some Fusible Link somewhere in the harness for only the Dash and Console lights is why the Exterior Lights are still functioning and yet these have stopped working.

 

There are 3 primary fusible links:

1. Main
2. Headlight Motors
3. Headlights

Your dash and console lights are on the Main fusible link. If your heater, radio, etc still work, it is not an issue with the fusible link.

In my experience with my '81, the exterior lights are not on the same fuse as the interior lights, despite what the wiring diagram seems to show.

Do your headlights lower? The dash and console lights are on the same fuse as the circuit that provides the signal to the relay for lowering the headlights. If your headlights are able to lower, the problem is not with the fuse. If they can't, it's a good idea to check that fuse and the wiring leading from it.

From there I would check continuity between the combination switch and dimmer, and across the dimmer. If they both have good continuity, you'll like need to check every section of wire until you find the open circuit.

 

You can bypass the dimmer. Mine has been that way for probably 20 years. It was never bright enough with the dimmer, unfortunately bypassing does not make it much brighter tho.

 

On a similar topic, does anybody have a part number or source for the tiny light bulbs found in the center console, cig lighter etc?

I haven't been able to find a bulb that is a direct fit. My center console heater control lightbulb is blown.

 

#74 bulb. Looks like a miniature version of a #194 bulb.