Dimmer switch compatability:

[reydio]

Hmm... that didn't work for me. Popped a couple fuses, instead. Maybe I'm just tired and hooked something up wrong... I'll get some more fuses and see if I can figure it out on the weekend.

Yep, mine too, lol!!! dammit.

 

[supraguy@aol]

Ok, I hope one of you guys can sort it out and post a definitive summary on this.

 

[GrimJack]

Well, today I picked up a bunch of spare fuses and went at it.

Unfortunately, I have nothing good to report. There are three wires, which makes for 6 possible combinations, and I tried ALL of them.

Some of them give me dash lights on full, some of them give me no dash lights at all, some of them pop the fuse.

None of them gives me adjustable dash lights. Note that if I put the wires back in their original configuration and plug in the old style switch, they still work perfectly.

I'm guessing the next possibility is that my switch is toast.

 

[Jeff Lange]

Strange. I replied to that PM and checked wiring diagrams but never realized I checked the wiring diagram for a 1989, which was the old style.

The difference between the 2 types of switch varies depending on whether or not the car had airbags. 90+ for USA, 92 for Canada.

Without Airbag (86-89 USA, 86-91 Canada):
Pin 1 = Green (+12V)
Pin 3 = White/Green (Fader Line)
Pin 4 = White/Black (Ground)

With Airbag (90-92 USA, 92 Canada):
Pin 1 = White/Green (Fader Line)
Pin 2 = Green (+12V)
Pin 3 = White/Black (Ground)

So the early switch uses pins 1, 3 & 4, while later cars used pins 1, 2 & 3.

Hope this helps, sorry about the misinformation in the PM.

Jeff

 

[supraguy@aol]

Thanks again Jeff.
I'm expecting a 90+ dimmer in the mail on Monday.
Hopefully, I'll be able to report good news then.
:icon_bigg

 

[RazoE]

Strange. I replied to that PM and checked wiring diagrams but never realized I checked the wiring diagram for a 1989, which was the old style.

The difference between the 2 types of switch varies depending on whether or not the car had airbags. 90+ for USA, 92 for Canada.

Without Airbag (86-89 USA, 86-91 Canada):
Pin 1 = Green (+12V)
Pin 3 = White/Green (Fader Line)
Pin 4 = White/Black (Ground)

With Airbag (90-92 USA, 92 Canada):
Pin 1 = White/Green (Fader Line)
Pin 2 = Green (+12V)
Pin 3 = White/Black (Ground)

So the early switch uses pins 1, 3 & 4, while later cars used pins 1, 2 & 3.

Hope this helps, sorry about the misinformation in the PM.

Jeff

so to clear everything up, in order to get everything working the way it should, for an 86.5-89 USDM car to use a 90-92 dimmer, the following pins must:

de-pin and move
Pin 1 -> Pin 2 = Green (+12V)
Pin 3 -> Pin 1 = White/Green (Fader Line)
Pin 4 -> Pin 3 = White/Black (Ground)

correct..?

did you try it this way, grim.?

 

[GrimJack]

Yup. This is the way I have it plugged in right now. I have dash lights, but they do not dim.

 

[supraguy@aol]

Yup. This is the way I have it plugged in right now. I have dash lights, but they do not dim.

Lol! great.... I just got my dimmer in today, and about to de-pin the harness. I will post my results.

 

[supraguy@aol]

Re-pin was just as discussed. It took literally 2 minutes to swap the pins, and the dimmer works perfectly.
What wasn't mentioned is which pin is #1,2,3 and 4. Looking at the harness plug open end with the plug's lock 'latch' on top, they are:
1 2
3 4
Easy swap, thanks guys.

 

[GrimJack]

Guess I'm ordering a new dimmer!

 

[RazoE]

maybe you blew it when you were messing with the pins.?

 

[GrimJack]

I'd rank the possibility on that pretty low... I didn't start messing with the pin configuration until after I'd already verified that it didn't work with the pins in right places.

To be honest, this is likely going to be rather low on my priority list, as I literally never dim my dashlights in the first place.

 

[RazoE]

me neither, but I want to use a 90+ dimmer so I can get rid of the useless coin-holder...

I'm also going to relocate my hazard switch, and use the 86.5 blank plate in place of it..

 

[Jeff Lange]

Glad it worked for you.

Jeff