My 2000 convertible has a bit of a problem , dash & gauge lights work with courtesy lights so I know it's not a bulb problem but don't come on when I turn the headlights on , anyone else ever experienced this ? Thank's for any help anyone can offer......

 

On the left side of the dash there is a **** to adjust the dash brightness with the lights on. My guess is it is turned off. The **** may or may not be extended. If you push on it, it will pop out further to make it easier to grasp. This is the same **** for turning on the courtesy lights with the doors closed.

 

BE CAREFUL! If you turn it fully CW, it will click and the interior lights will stay on ALL THE TIME = DEAD BATTERY!!

JUST MAKE SURE THAT YOU DONT LEAVE IT IN THE FULLY CW POSITION.

 

Thanks Friend , yeah , that's the first thing I thought of too ! Thought maybe when I was cleaning the dash I spun it accidentally , not going to be that easy , unfortunately ! Thanks for your reply !

 

Bill , first & foremost I'd like to thank you for all the time & effort you (and many others) put into this Forum ! Your excellent well thought out advice , photos , step by step instructions are all priceless to me & countless others , my hat is off to you , good Sir ! Ironically , while reading your great thread about the ignition switch & all the crazy effects of corroded & loose contacts , another member asked the exact question I have (headlights on , no dash lights ,regardless of dimmer position) I did not see a reply to his question , I'm wondering if that meant "well yes , this is another symptom of an ill ignition switch" Thank you again sincerely for all your effort & wisdom shared...............DC

 

When I read your post, I was think to my self,, WHAT LIGHTS actually don't work. IF, the light that you are having issues with work when you unlock the car but not when you turn the lights on, I would look at the column Multifunction switch. They can and will have issues.

The C5 has so many lights schemes that are BCM controlled, multifunction switch controlled, ect that its difficult to decipher someone's problems sometimes only because they don't accurately relay exactly what is happening or don't see all of the lighting issues.

SO, that being said, I would look at the multifunction switch.

NOTE! The actual gage face and gage needles are NOT back lighted. They are reflective lighted by BLACK LIGHT Florescent tubes in the LEFT and RIGHT corners of the IPC that accent dayglow painted objects.

BC

 

I used to look at those lights & wonder how they were illuminated , figured it wasn't an "ordinary" filament type bulb because it was such a unique type of "glow" Now I know ! I'm assuming the same black light tubes light it up both when the headlights are on or as you say unlock the Car , is that correct ? As the old saying goes though "the plot thickens" ! Since my original post about the dash , early this morning while it was still dark a Friend was driving behind me , he told me my tail lights weren't working ! Said that when I hit the brakes they lit up fine & the left & right turn signals lit up fine , could all these be related ? I just got out my Genuine Y - Platform GM Service Manuals that I bought from another very nice Guy on the Forum , will it do me any good to look in there ? I'm a very good nuts & bolts Mechanic , was a Mercury Marine Master Technician for a while but it was pre ECU, ECM , BCM , CAN BUS , Serial Data etc. so I'm a "babe in the woods" in that department , again Bill , any advice you could give will be immensely appreciated ! DC

 

LOL!! The SERVICE MANUAL is your BIBLE! You just need to sit down and figure out how to use them. There are three volumes. Off the top of my head, One is BODY, one is Powertrain and the other is electrical. The electrical book has a chapter that basically starts with the battery busses POSITIVE and GROUND and shows you ALL of the relays and fuses, grounds connectors ect.......... Then there is a section that you can read a DTC and it will detail that entire circuit with a write up and troubleshooting guide. It shows you ALL of the connectors and pinouts and wire colors.

The IPC can be LIGHTED two ways. The BCM can turn on the lights (as when you unlock the car with the FOB) OR You can turn the multifunction switch to make lights come on. IF the BCM can light the IPS but the multifunction switch can,, THAT a multifunction switch issue. See if you have hazards, and see if the light turn on with the BCM circuit

There are TWO fuses that you need to check: In the late model cars 01-04 its:
HAZT/SG fuse #15 20 amp & STP/HAZ fuze#8 20 amp.

Don't know the FUSE numbers for your fuse box They are in the passengers foot well fuse box.


Bill

 

Sorry I've been missing , my laptop flaked out on me too ! Not my month for electronics ! I guess I didn't give year & body style , this is a 2000 Convertible , I have hazards , brake lights , both turn signals , IPC lights work when powered by BCM , also work when dimmer switch is turned all the way clockwise & clicks to turn on courtesy lights , tail lights not working at all , fuse #15 Hazard/Turn signal OK , Fuse #8 Stoplamp/Hazard Flashers OK , Now here's where it gets good , #6 Parking/Tail lamps.......when I pulled the fuse to check it THE HEADLAMPS POP UP ! Checked the fuse , it's good , put back in place , headlamps go down ! Shake & scratch head , pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming , pull fuse #6 , headlamps pop up (not lit) put fuse back in , down they go ! I've had the Car 2 1/2 years , the only electrical modifications I see evidence of is installation of the steering lock fix , fuse box shows no evidence of ever even being damp , appear to be the original fuses in all locations , I have replaced the hazard flasher twice , first with a cheapo that stopped locking & flashing after 3 months then replaced with a good AC/Delco , replaced front left Turn/DRL bulb. Does the headlamps popping up with the removal of #6 fuse point a finger at the Multifunction Switch or is this a whole new can of worms ? Thanks again Bill..................DC