Dash Light Issue

[Dous]

Okay so I have been having some interior lighting issues, let me lay it out:

The dash back lighting does not work, and neither does the HVAC panel backlighting.

I checked the interior fuse for them, it's good. In addition I checked the 10A Tail fuse in the engine bay, it was good.

Also I will note the the rheostat is turned all the way up.

I am not sure where to go from here, any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I will also say that my spiral cable in the steering wheel is broken, but I doubt that has anything to do with it.


-Casey

 

[repo]

Okay so I have been having some interior lighting issues, let me lay it out:

The dash back lighting does not work, and neither does the HVAC panel backlighting.

I checked the interior fuse for them, it's good. In addition I checked the 10A Tail fuse in the engine bay, it was good.

Also I will note the the rheostat is turned all the way up.

I am not sure where to go from here, any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I will also say that my spiral cable in the steering wheel is broken, but I doubt that has anything to do with it.


-Casey

You checked the dimmer knob right?

 

[jreask]

Okay so I have been having some interior lighting issues, let me lay it out:

The dash back lighting does not work, and neither does the HVAC panel backlighting.

I checked the interior fuse for them, it's good. In addition I checked the 10A Tail fuse in the engine bay, it was good.

Also I will note the the rheostat is turned all the way up.

I am not sure where to go from here, any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I will also say that my spiral cable in the steering wheel is broken, but I doubt that has anything to do with it.


-Casey

Most probably the bulbs. Believe it or not, I bought a 2004 with 168K on it and all of the HVAC back lights were burned out. It seems odd for the gauge lights to all be out, but it's not out of the realm of possibility. Check the plugs on the back of the combination meter (gauge cluster).

Hope this helps.

 

[IBallEngineer]

Okay so I have been having some interior lighting issues, let me lay it out:

The dash back lighting does not work, and neither does the HVAC panel backlighting.

I checked the interior fuse for them, it's good. In addition I checked the 10A Tail fuse in the engine bay, it was good.

Also I will note the the rheostat is turned all the way up.

I am not sure where to go from here, any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I will also say that my spiral cable in the steering wheel is broken, but I doubt that has anything to do with it.


-Casey

Not sure what the interior fuse is , but if the tail lamp fuse is good, that isn't the problem. I'm curious since you didn't say ALL the illumination is out, does the ashtray lamp, cig lighter illumination, shift lever lamp, etc. work? If any of these work, and are dimmable, it's most likely the bulbs. If NONE work, then we can check the Rheostat.

:couch2:

 

[gamefreakgc]

Not sure what the interior fuse is , but if the tail lamp fuse is good, that isn't the problem. I'm curious since you didn't say ALL the illumination is out, does the ashtray lamp, cig lighter illumination, shift lever lamp, etc. work? If any of these work, and are dimmable, it's most likely the bulbs. If NONE work, then we can check the Rheostat.

:couch2:

Even if it were the Rheostat, wouldn't they all just be really dim or really bright?

Reason why is that my Pickup's rheostat never worked. Was stuck on a low light setting. Swapped it out and then gained control of the lighting again. Unless it's not continuing the current at all, but that would mean there's a wire d/c'd or missing or something.

 

[Dous]

Thanks for the replies everyone

Not sure what the interior fuse is , but if the tail lamp fuse is good, that isn't the problem. I'm curious since you didn't say ALL the illumination is out, does the ashtray lamp, cig lighter illumination, shift lever lamp, etc. work? If any of these work, and are dimmable, it's most likely the bulbs. If NONE work, then we can check the Rheostat.

:couch2:

Well there is a fuse labeled "Gauge" I was thinking it may have something to do with it. All the illumination is out, aside from things like the ETC indicator on the dash, and things like the oil pressure light. But all backlighting is gone

 

[MONTYMTB]

I say bulbs. There are only three for backlighting on the gauges, and I think two for the climate control. You didn't say, did this just happen suddenly, has it been like that since you bought it, or did it gradually go out over time?

 

[IBallEngineer]

Even if it were the Rheostat, wouldn't they all just be really dim or really bright?

Reason why is that my Pickup's rheostat never worked. Was stuck on a low light setting. Swapped it out and then gained control of the lighting again. Unless it's not continuing the current at all, but that would mean there's a wire d/c'd or missing or something.

The Rheostat can have an open circuit internally.

 

[IBallEngineer]

I say bulbs. There are only three for backlighting on the gauges, and I think two for the climate control. You didn't say, did this just happen suddenly, has it been like that since you bought it, or did it gradually go out over time?

15 bulbs total on that circuit! Including OEM stereo! Highly improbable that all 15 would go bad at once.

 

[TheDurk]

The Rheostat can have an open circuit internally.

Pretty common. A piece of the resistance layer sticks to the rotating contact and if turned after sitting a long time can rip it loose leaving an open circuit. If it's a wound-wire type the wire just breaks. Time to take a test light or DMM to the rheostat and see if power is entering AND leaving.

Put the test light between the green and light green wires on the rheostat (if those aren't the colors--put it between the two of the three wires that ARE NOT white/black (ground). Voltage or light should go from full bright with knob at one extreme to zero/dark at the other.