?'s 1980 vette 350 Please HELP!

[jewlz]

?#1
Where the gear shift is - Isn't the P R N D 123 suposed to be lit up?? This is an automatic and I could have sworn it was lit before.

?#2
The courtesy light won't come on anymore,,,, if the problem isn't the bulb and not a fuse,,, could it be a switch ? And if so where is it located? Or what could it be??? Dash lights are working..

[ToolGuy]

Hey there! I think I can help since these questions are not to specific just to C3, but go for many older vehicles.

Normally the PRNDL is lit up. I believe but someone can confirm it, for C3, it should be lit up. With the lights on, using your hand, try tapping the console, or shifter, if it lights up, the bulbs filament is broken. It may work for awhile again, or when the lights go off, may not come back on again. I have seen this many times and one of my own cars had the same thing and I could hit the shifter and cause it to come on. If that does not work, it still is most likely a bulb issue and the console would have to come apart to replace it.

For the courtsey lights, they do not come on with both doors, or just one?

If just one, there is a switch in each door jamb. The pillar jamb where the door hinges too and it is nothing more then a spring loaded switch, with two wires. When you open the door, the spring opens and the wires touch, causing the light to come on. Possibly you need a new switch or one of the wires has corrodded and fallen off the terminal.
I cannot speak 100% for your cars switch, but normally the end of the switch you can see when you open the door, looks like the head end of a nail. There is also normally a round piece of rubber, looks like the end of a hose, that extends out and around, to protect the switch too, but these can rot and fall off, so that may not be on your car anymore.

The switches are also normally threaded into the panel and have flats on it for a wrench, or socket. Look for these clues and you should be able to find it. Simply back it out and pull it out of the hole to check/replace.

Looks like this...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1978-...Q5fAccessories

[jewlz]

Thanks so much for your help youre a doll !!! I will check out what all you advised.

"jewlz"

[lovehatec4]

Check voltage at your headlamp switch. as you dim the dashlights that gear selector should dim as well. also, check the connections in the console and at the stereo. Hope this helps.. let us know