Dashboard light problem-help!
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Dashboard light problem-help!
Damsel in distress.
Dashboard lights up then goes out on an
intermittant basis. The fuse for the dashboard
light(s) is fine. My mechanic is having a problem
diagnosing it and I would rather stay
away from the stealer dealers.
Could it be the light switch itself? My C5 has
78,000 miles and is otherwise in perfect repair
Dashboard lights up then goes out on an
intermittant basis. The fuse for the dashboard
light(s) is fine. My mechanic is having a problem
diagnosing it and I would rather stay
away from the stealer dealers.
Could it be the light switch itself? My C5 has
78,000 miles and is otherwise in perfect repair
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,651
Likes: 9
From: HOW FAST WAS I GOING OFFICER? Los Angeles Hating GM Dealership Service Dept.'s Since Sept. 2004
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Is it all the dash lights ... DIC buttons? Or just the gauge cluster (speedo, tach, fuel, etc)?
Racer
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Illinois
I had this problem in my 94 suburban. It might not be the same due to being a totally different vehicle, but it was the dimmer switch that we had to replace (which ended up being the whole headlight switch itself). I hope this helps!
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 23,234
Likes: 4
From: All that glitters is Gold - Hockey Is CANADA'S game
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Originally Posted by mambovette
It is only the dashboard cluster of instruments
It works -- and then five minutes or so later
is goes out. Is there a light bulb that just
lights up the gauge cluster?
Thank you!
It works -- and then five minutes or so later
is goes out. Is there a light bulb that just
lights up the gauge cluster?
Thank you!
GM uses two black light to illuminate the dash. In the picture below you can see the black light on each side.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 1
From: Bradenton, FL
Originally Posted by mambovette
Do you think it is the lights or the dimmer
switch on the side of the dashboard?
switch on the side of the dashboard?
I would suspect something in the modulator circuit, but it wouldn't hurt to pull the cluster and check the connections before replacing the modulator. The dimmer switch on the left side of the cluster also dims the rest of the cockpit lighting (radio, temp controller, etc.) If they still dim when the cluster doesn't, then I would suspect the dimmer switch itself is not the culprit. Once you pull the cluster, you will see the high voltage modulator that powers the cluster lights. (there are high voltage warnings all over it) I would center my suspicians there. This sounds harder than it really is. I've had my cluster out a dozen times.
Good luck, intermittent problems are clearly the most difficult to troubleshoot.
Cherish your Hopes...
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 13,074
Likes: 236
From: West Palm Beach FL
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by mambovette
Damsel in distress.
...or a knight in shining armour who has the solution...?
do the gauges work when the lights go out...?
...could be as likely a loose connection...
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