I have an '86 Cutlass Supreme and I bought the car with only one of the lights in the dash working, the one over the gas light. About a month ago it went out for a minute so i tapped the headlight switch a few times and it came back on. I don't know if hitting it worked or if it was just coincidence. Two days ago the light went back out. I have tried everything from checking all the bulbs, replacing the headlight switch, taking apart and cleaning the dimmer and still nothing. Anyone have advice?

 

I would check the dash light fuse and ground wire to the dash.

 

Did you get the rest of the bulbs to work - but just intermittently?

 

Well the other lights never came back on, the one with the gas gauge was the only one with any activity. On the other hand the high beam light, and the turn signals do still light up.

 

Since you tried new bulbs, next try shining up the copper pads of the flex PCB where the bulb sockets contact it. A new pencil eraser on a wooden pencil works well, as does a polishing wheel on a dremel. Shine up the contacts on the bulb sockets, too.

That one light over the gas gauge means you are getting power from the headlight switch. Now does that one light DIM when you rotate the dimmer switch?

 

Another thing that works well is a Q tip and twinkle copper cleaner. Dampen ( Don't soak )Q tip, lightly dip in twinkle copper cleaner and rub circuit board softly, and clean off with a soft cloth.