Clock, dash lights go dim sometimes
 

Sometimes my clock goes to some fraction of its normal brightness (apart from when I turn the headlights on). Sometimes the brightness of my dashboard lights suddenly decreases. The heating system vent selector icons usually don't light (although the light showing which one is depressed does).

These things are largely independant of each other and their onset occured at different times (although pretty much all started within the last year). Hitting the console usually can temporarily cause the lighting to return to normal.

Where should I look to check wiring connections? What else can I check? How difficult is this to fix?

Thanks,
-Jerry

Most likely looking at three problems here:

1. Resolder the clock/idiot light module. If this hasn't been done, it needs to be regardless of whether it is working correctly or not.

2. See above for the logicon (heater, A/C controls)

3. Your headlight switch is probably failing. You can either replace the relay inside, or replace the switch. Most likely you will find that the plug on the switch has overheated in the past and also burnt the wiring harness. If this is the case, you need to replace both the switch and the harness (don't worry, the harness is just a little short thing that leads unde the dash to another plug).

A couple of questions:

1. I haven't taken this apart yet -- which parts need to be resoldered, the connectors? Or something else?

2. Ditto.

3. How hard is it to take apart the headlight switch assembly?

Thanks for the info Aaron.

One more thing while I have your ear - my driver's seatbelt warning sound & light has something wrong with it. At a very particular extension of the shoulder belt, they will start going off. Retract or extend the belt a millimeter, and they stop. It's been doing this for so many years I tune out the noise 99% of the time.

-Jerry