1980 Chevy Truck Dash goes wacky when I turn on headlights

1980 CHEVROLET TRUCK
90,000 MILES • V8 • 2WD • MANUAL
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SPLATTGRAPHICS
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
When I turn on the lighs, the amps drop to 0, the temp pegs all the way, gas guaage quits, there's no gauge lighting, the turn indicators both glow dim & steady and theres' no wipers. The rest of the truck seems unharmed. With headlights off, everything's normal, and yet a new headlight switch didn't remedy it.
Sep 13, 2009 at 12:14 PM
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HMAC300
  • ✓ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 48,601 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
yep, sounds like you have lost the ground. You should make sure all of the these grounds are connected and clean. the battery to body ground, engine to body ground, usually off of back of engine or valve cover to firewall/front of dash. Make sure dash is grounded as well. I'd bet the body ground is not connected....
Sep 22, 2009 at 12:33 PM
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