1992 Silverado - No Dash or parking/running lights

I just recently purchased a used (in very good condition) '92 Silverado Ext. Cab.  I have brake lights, 1 headlight (till I can replace the bulb) but no lights on the instrument panel and no parking/running lights.  Also, just in case this might help, the radio and EQ/Tape player was removed prior.  I checked the fuse and it looks good, I do have turn signals.

Welcome to the forum!!! It sounds like the head light switch may have gone bad.

Would it still be a faulty head light switch if the headlight still turns on?

Well the one thing that the parking/DRL and the dash lights have in common is the headlight switch. If I remember correctly the one in your year of truck has two switches, parking and headlights. The parking switch is probably faulty, but you would have to replace the unit. The switch that controls the parking lights also controll the dash lights, that would be why you have headlights but no parking or dash lights.

Thank you!!  This will help me greatly and get my truck back on the road and be able to get rid of my old car sooner.  For now, till I can get that switch replaced, I have to use my old car...  

The unit should not be that much, about $20-$25. LMC has them listed for $19.95, your local parts store should be about the same price. And shouldn't take more the 20 min to install yourself.

I was able to find the part at Autozone for $11.99 plus tax.  It was a fairly easy replacement as you said but it still didn't give me the instrument panel and parking/running lights.  I got the headlight bulb replaced and got both headlights working now. 

Any other suggestions as to getting those lights working?

Maybe there is a bad wire or a bad connection somewhere. I'm running out of ideas. Electrical problems are sometimes worst to figure out than mechanical problems.

Could having a trailer hitch installed also cause the problem?  When I bought it it already had the hitch with the wire harness.

I was looking up parts and found a relay for the parking lamps.  I'm going to see if I pick one up and replace the one I have to see if that will get my parking/running lights back. 

It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have to drive at night, but by the time I get done with work, it's dark out and I get a bit worried not having those lights, not only that in MN, it's required (I believe it's the same in all states).  If that doesn't work, I'll have to take it in to a repair shop to have them figure it out.  If I do, I would prefer a Chevy shop and not the "generic" repair shops... or does it make a difference?

The dealership would probably know what is going but you get charged an arm and a leg. I would try looking (phone book, internet) around your area for an electrical mechanic.

Very True.  Well, I've setup an appointment with Firestone and while it's there, I figured, might as well as get a tranny flush at the same time.  They quoted me 90 an hour to troubleshoot...  If it has to be done, it has to be done...

I hope they can find the problem. When they find it lets us know, other may have the same problem, and Im curious.

I will surely do that.

Wouldn't you know it...  just like trouble shooting computers, it's the last, easiest and smallest thing that caused it.

After all the diagnosing and tracking down the cause of this issue... it was a fuse that I had overlooked.  Apparently there was another fuse that controlled the parking lights, dash lights and horn.  A number 20 fuse had burnt out...  I guess in my frustration, I didn't look at all the fuses and just focused in on the one labeled "Park".

After replacing that fuse, everything worked like a charm.  Now I have to cancel my appointments with the shop for a electrical diagnoses and just get the tranny and radiator flushed.

Here is an update:  All I had to do was replace a 20 amp fuse and all was good.  Now, it seems there might be a short somewhere.  I do remember doing a hard bump on the road (the roads are so bad after winter here in MN) and having the cab lights come on real quick then go off. 

I didn't think much of it till I got near my home and the cab lights came on briefly and go back off again.  I didn't notice till I pulled into the driveway that my instrument panel lights were off as well as my parking lights.

I checked the 20 amp fuse and it had burned out.  Well, this morning I stopped off at the autoparts store before going into work and replaced the fuse.  I went to make sure I had parking lights and nothing.  I checked the fuse and it had burnt out again.  I replaced it with a 2nd fuse and samething.  I did it a 3rd time and it happened again.  I hope that I can locate where the short is. 

I don't believe after installing the stereo could be doing this, it should be on a different circuit, shouldn't it?

The stereo should not be the problem unless it hooked into the lights for dimming proposes.

I'm pretty sure it didn't.  I'll have to look up the electrical schematics when I get home...  I'm sure that should give me some sort of idea of where it could be...

quote:

ORIGINAL: northey87

The stereo should not be the problem unless it hooked into the lights for dimming proposes.

i'm about 99.8% positive that the lights are not tied in with your cd player. i had the same problem with my 1990 chevy were the parking lights, gauge cluster, and tail lights did not work just the headlights. i looked at fuses and nothing was blown with those. so i just started to take wires and shake them around and eventually they came back. it could be diffrent but my wire that was causing it was brown in color so maybe start with that one but like i said it could be diffrent. good luck man

o and were in MN are you??

In Blaine.

quote:

ORIGINAL: thommcbr1

o and were in MN are you??

It's not, cause the radio would've gone out as well.  According to the electrical schematics, that 20 amp fuse protects the parking lights, horns, dash lights and the emergency lights.

My friend pulled everything out and tested the circuits but couldn't locate the short.  I'm begining to suspect it's a bad relay (which I bought and didn't return after the last time).  Now I'll have to find that cluster inside the engine well.

quote:

ORIGINAL: thommcbr1

i'm about 99.8% positive that the lights are not tied in with your cd player. i had the same problem with my 1990 chevy were the parking lights, gauge cluster, and tail lights did not work just the headlights. i looked at fuses and nothing was blown with those. so i just started to take wires and shake them around and eventually they came back. it could be diffrent but my wire that was causing it was brown in color so maybe start with that one but like i said it could be diffrent. good luck man

well i guess i don't know what else to tell you i hate electrical. to much work. but good luck and let us know what happens.also, i'm in Richfield. 

It's not that bad, it's like working on computers, eliminating devices till the actual faulty part is located.  At this point, it's down to the relay's, if I can get to it.  It also maybe related to the front parking lights.  The replacement bulbs are different from what it's supposed to be, so I wonder if the sockets were replaced with the incorrect type prior to me owning this truck.

quote:

ORIGINAL: thommcbr1

well i guess i don't know what else to tell you i hate electrical. to much work. but good luck and let us know what happens.also, i'm in Richfield. 

Hopefully this will fix this issue for once and for all.  After my friend tested everything, there was one area he couldn't get to.  A wire cluster located on the inside of the engine well, up against the driver side firewall. 

We were not sure how to remove the plugs so we just left it at this point.  He did pick up some 2-1 dielectric spray and gave it a good coating.  After letting it dry overnight, put in a new 20 amp fuse and hit the horn, got sound.  Tried the parking lights after that and got lights.  He said that prior to that, he noticed that it was slightly wet which may have caused the short that kept blowing that 20 amp fuse.  I'll keep you all updated as to how this works out.