Dash Lights Are Out??
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Stuart, FL USA
Dash Lights Are Out??
My 2001 MY/Torch Vert has just lost its dash lights. They had been flickering for 7000 miles but now nothing illuminates the main display. All the gauges are fine, the Driver Information display is still there, the dimmer still works on the center console lighting fine and the HUD still lets me drive at night.
Any clues as to how the main instrument panel is lighted and if there is a specific bulb or breaker that could work loose and fall out? I hate to give this to a dealer to tear my dash apart if it is something obvious.
Thanks, Bob
Any clues as to how the main instrument panel is lighted and if there is a specific bulb or breaker that could work loose and fall out? I hate to give this to a dealer to tear my dash apart if it is something obvious.
Thanks, Bob
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 0
From: Allamuchy NJ
Re: Dash Lights Are Out?? (OITSUBOB)
Hey Oitsubob, mine flickered yesterday. Also happened once before, about a year ago and I thought nothing of it. What causes this and will my car end up like yours.
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Stuart, FL USA
Re: Dash Lights Are Out?? (C5_PIG)
My flickering was about every few minutes, the dash lighting would go out for about 2 seconds. It acted like a circuit breaker resetting due to heat. Others thought it was a bad ground at the battery. It happened right from delivery and was just annoying but too intermittent to do the dealership dance about..
Now I have no lights for the dash and I wonder if a bulb or connector was hanging in a socket being intermittent and has fallen out. I don't have a manual to see how the cluster gets its power or the dash gets lit.
If there is just a connector I can push on or a bulb to R&R, I can look for that.
I have always also sensed an unusual load situation. If I hold down the power window switch after full travel, the headlights dim and the voltage gauge sags noticeably??
Now I have no lights for the dash and I wonder if a bulb or connector was hanging in a socket being intermittent and has fallen out. I don't have a manual to see how the cluster gets its power or the dash gets lit.
If there is just a connector I can push on or a bulb to R&R, I can look for that.
I have always also sensed an unusual load situation. If I hold down the power window switch after full travel, the headlights dim and the voltage gauge sags noticeably??
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 3,326
Likes: 0
From: Taylor TX
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Re: Dash Lights Are Out?? (OITSUBOB)
The instrument lights are backlit by a UV lamp, which is fired by a ballast assembly. Kinda over-complex for backlighting I think, but i gives a cool look :rolleyes:
It could be the bulb or the ballast. Neither is easy to get to, gotta remove the cluster.
It could be the bulb or the ballast. Neither is easy to get to, gotta remove the cluster.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 423
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee WI
Re: Dash Lights Are Out?? (lotzahp)
Mine just out right stopped working about a 2-3 weeks ago, same with the lights on my center console. As soon as my lights turn on everything goes back except DIC and HUD. I looked for fuses, they were all fine. I played around with the dimmer switch and I seemed to get some light then but nothing would stay on, not sure if it is the switch or what??? :confused: :confused:
