Dash/Gauge Lights not working / Fuel Pump
 

I have a few problems with my bonne (1988 LE), but one of the most annoying is the gauge lights are not working. The turn signal lights work most of the time, and the high beam indicator light, and ... the service engine light :lol: but the speedo and fuel gauge won't light up. This is really annoying at night when I can't tell how fast I'm going. I was wondering what the problem could be, and how easy it would be to fix. Like, is there one bulb for all the gauges, and how easy it would be to get to it. I haven't checked the fuses yet either though. Also, I don't really have alot of tools, I have a socket wrench, screwdrivers and allen wrenches, but thats pretty much it. I'm also very inexperienced in working on my car. The most Iv'e ever done is change a radio, and a few fuses. (and tires of course) One more thing; I was thinking about getting a used fuel pump from a junkyard, and I'd need to know where the fuel pump is, and how hard it would be to get it off and put on my car. Would I have to drain all the fuel out before? :help:

draining the fuel makes ur life easier because the fuel pump is in the top of the fuel tank and the tank has to be removed to get at it.

As for the dash lights, you could probably handle fixing this by yourself. The dash cover that extends from the left side of the car over the steering wheel and down to the radio just pops out. Then there are 6 or 8 screws around the gauge cluster that have to come out. The ones on the bottom of the plastic cover are easy to get to. The ones on top are a pain though, because you have to hold the top dash panel up about an inch to get your screwdriver at the top screws. once that plastic cover is out the gauge cluster should be able to be worked and wedged out. Once it is out go ahead and unplug all the bulbs from the back, they should be turned first and then lifted out. Take one of them(because they are all the same bulb) to the parts store and match them up numberwise if you can read them or sizewise if you can't. They were cheap so I bought 7 packs(14 bulbs) and replaced all the ones in the dash. You really don't want to have to do this again! Replace all the bulbs and be careful putting the guage cluster back in, it has only one plug-in spot and it is hard to hit. then just bolt everything back in. Good luck! Mine is an 88SSE, I hope it isn't any different in this area of the car. ;) Welcome to the club, you've come to the right place if you truly love your bonne!!!

Don't waste your time on a used fuel pump.

But wait wait hold up.

Check your Headlight/Dimmer switch/module deal. Whenever I dim my gages I see them flicker and wonder when its finally gonna short altogether.

Get one of those, in fact get a couple just in case. And see if that does anything. Otherwise I would say obviously bulbs.

Just my $0.02

ditto on the pump, do it right, shell out the $$, you'll be very glad you did later!

Remember anything worth doing is worth doing! Right!...I think that's how that goes. :oops: :roll: :lol:

I tried a non-Delco pump in a Fiero once and within a month it was making noise. Never a bit of trouble with an AC Delco pump. For somthing you will never want to do again, use only an AC-Delco pump and replace the strainer (sock) while there.