I have a 1984 Monte Carlo. When I go to put it in reverse the lights just flash on and go off. And my dash lights wont come on. I changed the guages and now they dont work.

 

most of the time if the dash lights go out it is due to teh light switch in the dash going out. or the dimmer goign bad on it.

Also as far as the rev. lights.

they can be made to work /not work sometimes by teh light switch IT is triggers the REv. lights.

So this is fixed by adjusting the linkage on the car to make the lights to work,
Easy way to find out on this si put it in rev whith the key on but not running.
once in rev. and the lights go out. move the colum shifter up and down a bit and see if they flash or come one again.

If htey come on then this is the issue.
If not then i tcould be a bad ground on the switch also.

just a matter of screwing with it to find out. for sure.

 

where would the ground be located at? Also the other lights work around the ac controls.

 

the grounds are one of two places.
1. at the light in the bumper or in that area.
2. at the switch and two wires run out to the lights.

If the lights areougn the hvac controlls are workign then you mostlikly have a bad wire there in the cluster.
Cant remeber if those are the copper imprinted plastic in that year or not. If so open the dash up and take out the bulbs. and inspect the areas aroudn them to make sure they havent been cut threw.
If this is not the issue look wher eit plugs in and make sure tha thte wires are good all the way threw to the switch