hey guys i recently converted all my interior lights to LEDs, upon re instillation i noticed my DIC switch does not work, the acts normal does everything it should but i cannot change parameters. per my service manual i checked for resistance from the ground terminal F and ground and had .5 ohms resistance (this is ok) i then tried jumping terminals for each other the switches to ground and nothing worked still. i tried unplugging my gauges and repluged and nothing same scenario. i looked over my switch with the LEDs, the LEDs light up with the rest of the car just no switches, 3 of the leds were touching the board but they were touching on the part of the board that is positive, also the book mentions that the switch is using battery voltage so its not like i overloaded a circuit or something.

what do the experts think? could my IPC be killed? even though it in its self works normally? thanks guys

 

Try replacing the switch pod.

 

thats why i tried jumping points on the connector, to isolate the IPC, even if jumped by a wire nothing happens, do you think changing the switch would help?. the switch lights up with the rest of the car, perhaps the switch is using too much energy due to the addled leds? im going to remove the bulbs tomarrow and see what happens ill keep this updated, tho i wish more people would reply

thanks for your reply calemasters

 

stopped at a dealer to have codes read, loos of communication with the DIC switch, i orded a new one and will try it out. hope its the switch and not the IPC

 

installed new switch, no change, so IPC it is

 

Just a simple thought --- Are you using the fob designated as #1 or #2? (regardless of the number stamped in the back)

If you are using a fob that is designated as #3 or #4, the car will NOT let you access the options menu, but everything else will work fine. This is just the behavior you describe, right?

I know its simple, but just tossing it out there for you. Eliminate the simple things first.

 

im using fob 1, my entire switch inoperative the only thing the switch does is light up, no button works. im pretty sure its the IPC, thats what i was telling my dealer but they insisted it was my switch because i put led lights in it. i scrutenized my switch right when the issue developed and there is not any porblems with it. the service manual has a whole procedure on how to diagnos and i eliminated the switch in 2 steps, the IPC must be the problem then right? not the BCM, cause everything else is fine in the car. thanks alot for you help i appreciate it you guys

 

Man I am sorry to hear about this...my friend put in LED's in his C5 and ran into a similar problem with his radio IIRC...I don't know if it will be any help but he is wanttospeed on this board (that's his email too at yahoo.com) if you would like to PM him. I don't remember the exact details of how he fixed it, maybe he can help you though. He won't see this as he's got a C5 Z and doesn't come here much.

I am going to be installing the blue face plates soon (never fooled with the dash before) so your post scares me....did you have to use a soldering gun for the LED mod?

 

I guess this thread just saved ma bunch of time and pain because I was thinking LEDs...

 

guys its insane, i had the weirdest feeling to try 1 more time, i touched my dimmer switch and noticed it felt weird, i open it up and i had it put back together wrong (never take your dimmer switch apart the thing is a pain to put back together, many spring and small parts. i did it turn the car on and my new dic switch worked, i was shocked, i reached for my modified switch and it worked + lit up a beautiful blue, i have no idea but it was the dimmer switch'es doing! i knew i did nothing to mess up either the switch or the IPC, i am very careful and check my work over many times. drove the car around and it all works fantastic! so after 2 months of worrying it was nothing talk about a releif i can now start my next project, think you will

timd38- if you are good with soldering i would try it out, the hardest parts are the hvac (took 6 hours) because it was stubborn to solder onto and the dimmer switch, tricky to put back together, also the radio cant have it's lights witched because its using micro leds called surface mounts, you can recolor the bulbs with a sharpie (what i did) or run el wire along the board (what i plan to do) mind you i also did this mod in january through the bitter cold, i think you could fair better now that its warm

Joe_g i did use a soldering gun, i have a thread with the how to pics if you interested, if you run into probs pm me

 

Great news!!!

I'm not going to tackle that project. My buddy did it, and it looks neat...but I'm not that handy with a soldering gun.

I'm going to tackle the colored gauge faces Pipedreams is selling now...see the C6 parts for sale section. I need to figure out how to get the cluster out to do it. Will check your thread!

 

Good news.

 

Thanks for putting this on here I am going to be doing the blue face plates and was thinking LED's also..........

 

with your driver door open pull at the plastic that the vent is in, that whole panel is just clicked into place, i find it much easier to just remove the dimmer switch from the panel then trying to disconnect it, same goes with the ignition switch, disconnect your DIC switch with a flat blade screw driver from the bottom, and twist off the interior temp sensor (adjacent to ignition switch) remove trim panel, remove 4 bolts holding the ipc, lower steering wheel as far as the adjust mean allows and sneek ipc out, it had 2 connectors, they only fit into one plug so you cant mix them, finally when working on the ipc leave it upright, if its face down for too long (like 8 hours) you mess up the gell for the needles and they wont read properly

 

Hey thanks for the tip!! I see what you mean, that's easy. Thanks man you got me going now I think I can tackle the rest. Appreciate that!!