[Tennesseestorm]

I had not started my 1989 Pontiac Safari wagon (same car as the 89' Caprice Estate, Buick Estate, Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser) for about a year. I started it this evening and pulled it up to the upper driveway. I let it run for a while and I was going to take it for a spin to get all of the oils warmed up in it and to get it loose again. It was starting to get dusky dark and I turned the headlights on. What was strange is that the instrument panel illumination lights did not illuminate, but BOTH of the turn signals did and they stayed on steady. The lights on the heat/AC controls and over the other switches illuminated as normal. I turned them off and on a few times and the same thing. Then I turned the dimmer and it dimmed the signal lights. I turned them off and on again and then they were working properly and everytime after that. I find this very strange, especially the part where the signal lights on the dash were brightening and dimming with the dimmer. I was thinking these were seperate, as they typically do not brighten/dim, even with that switch. I am assuming it was where that switch had not been used for a while and there was perhaps some corrosion? I would like to know for sure before, because not knowing about things like this annoys me.

Thanks in advance for any information!

[LuxLeMans]

Here's a thought. Apparently, turn signals draw a lot of amperage.

Perhaps this initial dimming was caused by a battery that was not quite at full strength, and/or an alternator that had been 'asleep' a long time. Once the alternator blew out the cobwebs, it was able to keep the power flow strong and steady, thus no more flickering.

Again, just a thought...

[Tennesseestorm]

Thanks. Actually, there were no lights dimming. What actually did happen is when I turned the headlights on, the normal lights that are to illuminate the instrument cluster did not illuminate, but both of the turn signal indicator lights did. Steady glow. After I turned the lights off and on a couple of times, they were back to normal. It was most bizarre.

Thanks again!