1985 Elk, bought it about 2 years ago and still many problems.
among them is the dash lights don't work.
Could this be the printed circuit or a fuseable link? I haven't been able to get that far yet but just found the group and am wondering if this is a standard problem?
also, how hard to do a full re-wire?
any pointers?
considered because engine runs but fouls the plugs, I just bought and got running a '84 305 electronic carb'd motor. I would guess that if I go back with the elec. carb that it would perform better. It ran like a charm when I first listened to it. (now like crap with older Q-Jet)
Any and all help will be appreciated

Gerald,
Have you checked the underdash fuse? Jon

if you mean the blade fuse, yes

Do not overlook the possibility that all the lamps are burned out. Check them out before you get into the other items.

Have already checked the fuse and bulbs.
when I bought it somebody had put up a accent light to see the dash.

Any body done a full re-wire? How hard is it to pull the dash?

Check your headlamp switch. The reostat portion will sometimes burn out leaving you without dash lamps but with everything else still working.

Hi Gerald -- Welcome to the group! First thing you might want to do is check out all the previous inquiries and answers given before on this topic to other members with similar problems. Usually you will find this very typical kind of problem has been addressed in great detail and those prior postings will help you to fix it or narrow it down to a very specific detail. At that point, you can post a question on that detail and get help. However, we recommend you research the topic first on the website.

Do this by clicking on the "forums" button on the top of the home page and then scroll down to the interior electrical systems. There you will see a list four pages long of previous discussions including your current problem. I'll bet your answer is right there waiting for you! No waiting for someone to reply!

Good luck on your repairs. Post some photos and let us know where you live so you can get invited to one of the spring gatherings in your region.

Hey all,
thank you for the ideas, I had thought of the switch but eliminated it by thinking of the other lights, I will replace it and go from there.
I had browsed the posts, maybe not in depth, but I will remember your advice John, and I updated my profile to include my location and I would be interested in the show coming up if it is running and my schooling/work schedule doesn't interfere.
again, thanks all and happy wrenching/motoring

On my car the rheostat part of the headlight switch broke, so there was no instrument lights but everything else worked. New headlight switch fixed it.

:-( I replaced the switch and still no guage lights, I ahve all other lights including the dome light, but no guage lights. Can anybody tell me which wire would be hot going into the back of the cluster and/or the switch?

I am all out of ideas...

Do you have power going to the dash lights? Next, pull the cluster out and trace back the printed circuits from any one of the dash lamp bulbs, ground and hot side. Use a magnifying glass to check out the strip where power comes into the cluster. Sometimes the printed circuit will crack in the "squish" area of the plug in. Good luck!

I went through the dash this weekend, I have power to the plug in, all the lights look good. But no lights. I looked at the printed circuit and I didn't see any cracks or breaks in it. nonetheless, I will end up finding one out of a Monte SS, and hopefully gettting the harness and ECM to match it.
Or I could just run mech. guages through the the dash piece that I have.
I like that idea, any suggestions?

forgot to add, that I have the alternator light (idiot light) , but it has always worked.

Sounds to me like a printed circuit problem. Remove the instrument cluster and using a multimeter carefully check for continuity in the circuits that power and ground the light bulbs. If you're skilled you can repair the circuit board otherwise they are available new. I wouldn't fool around with a used circuit board as they're fragile when old and the used one is likely to be bad also.
Your idea of using aftermarket guages in your instrument pod is a good one. If you do a search you'll find several good ideas for doing a custom dash.

One more thing to try on that newer El Camino is to make sure that any ground straps underneath the dash or near the driver's kick panel are bolted and/or making good contact.....Also, you may have a problem at the stereo connection/wires because that year stereo should have a dimmer and illumination wire......I'll bet your stereo wires are a mess, huh?? all those stereos illuminate and dim from the headlight switch just like your dash - GOOD LUCK if you try to check wires without a $5 circuit tester.......Most "good" stereo installation guys can troubleshoot a problem like yours if it is a result of a hacked-up stereo install.............................

So basically check your ground and stereo wires with a circuit tester

thanks for that info. I didn't know that the new printed circuits were available. The stereo is aftermarket(my install) using a aftermarket wiring adapter.
I wouldn't mind fixing it myself, just to say that I did it, but I like the mech gauage idea more I think. I'll send pics when that happens.

You can get a new printed circuit here: EC Parts (http://www.ecparts.net/electric3.htm#Ribbon%20Circuit%20Board)

TY Mrapii.
I will check them out