IP Dimmer switch
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 352
Likes: 6
From: Centreville Maryland
IP Dimmer switch
I think is bad and I have ordered a new one. Cost plus shipping about $40.
The rheostat does not dim the dic nor the instrument edge lights. It also does not dim the interior lights. At each end it will turn off the instrument edge light, but not dim it. There are no codes to refer to. The auto dimming function works because the dic is dim when I turn on the car but won't brighten.
Thoughts
The rheostat does not dim the dic nor the instrument edge lights. It also does not dim the interior lights. At each end it will turn off the instrument edge light, but not dim it. There are no codes to refer to. The auto dimming function works because the dic is dim when I turn on the car but won't brighten.
Thoughts
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,009
Likes: 2,707
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Just a possibility-
The switch is not really a rheostat, it's a kind of spring-loaded "Increase-Decrease" switch.
To increase, you rotate the switch clockwise and hold it there until the desired brightness is achieved, then release. To decrease, rotate the other direction and hold.
It would be nice if this was a simple case of "pilot error".
If it's actually a bad switch, then I'm no help.
The switch is not really a rheostat, it's a kind of spring-loaded "Increase-Decrease" switch.
To increase, you rotate the switch clockwise and hold it there until the desired brightness is achieved, then release. To decrease, rotate the other direction and hold.
It would be nice if this was a simple case of "pilot error".
If it's actually a bad switch, then I'm no help.
Last edited by Gearhead Jim; Jul 16, 2016 at 07:15 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
Likes: 1,319
From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
Just a possibility-
The switch is not really a rheostat, it's a kind of spring-loaded "Increase-Decrease" switch.
To increase, you rotate the switch clockwise and hold it there until the desired brightness is achieved, then release. To decrease, rotate the other direction and hold.
It would be nice if this was a simple case of "pilot error".
If it's actually a bad switch, then I'm no help.
The switch is not really a rheostat, it's a kind of spring-loaded "Increase-Decrease" switch.
To increase, you rotate the switch clockwise and hold it there until the desired brightness is achieved, then release. To decrease, rotate the other direction and hold.
It would be nice if this was a simple case of "pilot error".
If it's actually a bad switch, then I'm no help.
2009 owner's manual, page 3-19.
Push the **** in to turn on the interior lights.
Turn and hold the **** clockwise to brighten the lights
or counterclockwise to dim them. During the day, this
**** will adjust the instrument panel brightness and
at night will adjust all interior lighting.
Be sure not to have this **** turned all the way
down with the lamps on during the day. Your Driver
Information Center (DIC) may not be visible.
Turn and hold the **** clockwise to brighten the lights
or counterclockwise to dim them. During the day, this
**** will adjust the instrument panel brightness and
at night will adjust all interior lighting.
Be sure not to have this **** turned all the way
down with the lamps on during the day. Your Driver
Information Center (DIC) may not be visible.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 352
Likes: 6
From: Centreville Maryland
I tried different iterations but the interior lights did not change either up nor down. The dic seemed to have no mind no matter what I did with the switch. Likewise the instrument edge lights would turn off but not dim as you would expect. Maybe I wasted $44.31 (with shipping). It won't be the last time this car eats spare change!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,009
Likes: 2,707
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Re-reading the original post, the switch is not supposed to dim the "interior" lights that shine down from the mirror nor the courtesy lights in the footwells. You can turn them on-off by pushing the switch in and then in again.
But it should brighten/dim the instrument lights and most everything on the panel and climate control.
Can you find someone else with a C6 and see how their lights work. I'm beginning to suspect you do indeed have a bad switch, but it would be nice to avoid the hassle of changing it if not needed.
But it should brighten/dim the instrument lights and most everything on the panel and climate control.
Can you find someone else with a C6 and see how their lights work. I'm beginning to suspect you do indeed have a bad switch, but it would be nice to avoid the hassle of changing it if not needed.
