Navigational & dash gauge lights not working?

[7lazy77]

Sorry for my lack of knowledge on electrical, but I am trying to figure out why my nav & dash gauge lights are not working. It appears that I am not getting power to the switch since the light on the 3-position switch fails to light when I push it up the to "on" position. I have power to the other 3-position switches (map lights, depth finder & docking lights) which all work properly. I am looking for a little help on where to start & what I need to do to start searching for my problem. Thanks.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Navigational & dash gauge lights not working?

Electricity is like water running through a pipe but you can't see it. You need either a test light or a voltmeter to follow the trail. Since some of the switches work, power is present on that line. You can look at one of the switches that does work and would likely see a red wire which would be the HOT wire. On the NAV/ANC switch there should be a red wire connected to the center terminal on the switch. Check that connection. If it is a spade type connection disconnect and reconnect it to burnish the contacts a little. There is a ground terminal on that switch as well which would have a black wire on it. That ground is ONLY for the internal light on the switch. Make sure it is tight. That wire would not affect any other function except the internal light. The issue is probably the power to the switch however.