dash/center console lights - help!

[tunerkid]

ok so last night as i left work i went to flick my lights on, the headlights and all that came on but the dsah and cetner colsole lights didnt turn on... the "door open" "sealbelt" etc those worked, the turn signals on the dash worked and the hi beam "light" worked.. just my damn speedo, tach, engine temp and gas didnt, and then the middle - no a/c, heat, etc etc.. i pulled ALL the fuses thanks to mitsu SHITTY ASS manual and haivng no indication as to where the interior lights/dash/console light fuse may be and well all the fuses are fine.. so what now? its driving me crazy...

 

[luv2rallye]

Try turning the dashboard light intensity control (rheostat) as it controls those lites (and maybe temporarily short it out to see if it's bad).

 

[tunerkid]

i tried the dimmer and it did nothing....

 

[luv2rallye]

Did you try bypassing the rheostat (temporarily connect it's black/yellow wire to it's black wire (or ground))?

Do your tail lights work? The tail light relay must be working for those dash lights to have power.

 

[Enigma_Man]

yeah, check the tail lights.

If those are perfecto, then the dimmer probably died.

-Jesse

 

[tunerkid]

yea all other lights work, tails, parking lights, heads, highs, dome lights and even the little lights down by your feet when you open the door.. how do i get a new dimmer if it died? they better not even cost a lot. or else

 

[tunerkid]

also, does anyone know how i can check if its the dimmer before i go out get one and get it replaced and still have it not work because that wasnt the problem

 

[nisreo]

Originally posted by luv2rallye
Did you try bypassing the rheostat (temporarily connect it's black/yellow wire to it's black wire (or ground))?

Do your tail lights work? The tail light relay must be working for those dash lights to have power.

luv2rallye said how to test it.

 

[dsm4life]

i dont how much this helps but i was having a real bad night one night and my dash lights went out (where vents are) so i punched it and they been fine ever since !

 

[nisreo]

Originally posted by dsm4life
i dont how much this helps but i was having a real bad night one night and my dash lights went out (where vents are) so i punched it and they been fine ever since !

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

 

[spendone]

Weird, I was gonna say check the fuse under the hood. The fuse is located in the box near your battery. But of course, as long as ewverything is ok now. Just leave it alone.

 

[1990CherryTSI]

the light that lights her upper center A/C button area I think is bad or has a short. When she wants it on, she smacks the passenter side of it and bingo. At first I thought it was a switch she was hitting b/c it'd cut off, but soon came to realize it's the bulb in there (a pain to get to). When I hit it, nothing, but when she does, it comes right on. Damn DSM must be a female

 

[spendone]

The wire might be loose. I know when I took off my cluster and reattached it I lost my rear wiper. So I took it off again and fixed teh wire. Just a suggestion.

 

[truwarrior]

I have a problem with my center console lights. EVerything else works fine. Just basically all the fan speed, heating and AC etc. Some times it will go in and out. I'm guessing it's a bulb? How many bulbs are back there?

 

[truwarrior]

I noticed the air conditionor light works, but the fans, vents, and temp controls don't light up.

 

[Mike Marnik]

ya my center console lights do not work the rear defrost light and other switch lights work but where the heat settings and what not knobs are the lights dont come on. I had the same problem on my other dsm and it was just a plug but on this one i cant figure it out and i wasnt able to get the whole faceplate i guess u can call it that off.

 

[screaminDOHC]

i have that same problem, it would come on and go off, i tried to pull the assembly out but it all connected with cables and wires. Is there an easy way to get it out or a guide, i don't want to rip apart my center console to get to it. I just don't like how dark my car gets a night.

 

[Defiant]

Disconnect the plug leading to it. Trace it back, you'll find it. It will probably have a "latch button" on its side.

 

[turboglenn]

First test the dimmer the way luv2rally said. If that don't work, the dash is a PITA to get out. slowly undo all the screws and then you have to tip it forward from the bottom to undo the cables, then tip it towards the front from the top to wedge it past the steering wheel.