Hey peoples, my name is Randall. I m obviously new here and I hope to be visiting here a lot more. I just picked up an 02 CL-S and had a question about the dash/instrument lights. On my car, the backlight for the clock as well as the illumination for the information below the speedometer fails to work. All of the info is there, but say when you turn the lights on, it stays black insted of lighting up. My question was: Do all of the console/dash lights work off of the same fuse or would the instrument panel have its own? I have searched all day today and cant find anything about it. I havent been able to get a factory SM yet so I was wondering if someone here might be able to help me? It would be greatly appreciated, thanks.


randall

 

Today I got a chance to check the fuses. They all seemed to be fine. All except the parts that actually plug in, they looked like they had gotten really hot, all of them. Either way, I took a couple of pics just so you guys know exactly what I'm talking about.

#1 gauges with lights on


#2 gauges w/flash on so you can see that everything is working


#3 clock with light on


#4 clock w/flash on


hope that clears up any misunderstanding. NOW, anyone have any suggestions?


randall

 

Looks like you will have to replace those lights.

 

I just wanted to make sure someone else thought the same thing. Before I try to take it all apart, is it a feasible job?? Thanks again


randall

 

make sur eto take pictures and notes and post them when you're done! *and it works )

 

Doesn't anybody find it odd for three bulbs to have already burned out?

 

Well I did. From what I can tell, there should be 4 bulbs all together. 3 behind the main info part and one behind the ss. They are unique to the others in the panel. Thats also why I thought it was kinda strange. Im going to order them now and hopefully I can get it apart with relative ease and all my problems will be solved. We'll see.......


randall

 

Well took the dash apart and got the cluster out. Changed all 4 bulbs and lo and behold.........they still dont f'ing work. Thats the least of my problems now though.


randall

 

my clock has never been backlit...

 

I don't have the electrical schematics so I can't be sure, but it sounds like a problem with the ignition switch or the connection with it. When in the ACC or start position, all 4 of the backlit areas (odometer, clock, climate control, & radio) should come on.

Anybody with a Helms manual know which connection to check?

 

I bought my 03 6MT back in July from a guy who really took care of his ride and noticed the same thing...in my case, it was the bulbs. One of the bulbs in the odometer was out, the clock bulb was out (this is supposedly common since the clock is always illuminated while the car is running) and I even had to replace the bulbs for dimmer rheostat and the moonroof switch. I thought it was odd to have that many bulbs out in an 03 with 23k on it, but most of the bulbs are very small and there are quite a few of them...I'm guessing the service life on them must not be that long.

If I remember correctly, there's a DIY link somewhere around here for taking the dash apart....hope you fix your problem man.

 

I've never had to replace any of the bulbs in my '01, so I wasn't thinking bulbs when he mentioned ALL of them being out. If it is just bulbs, there's a good DIY w/pics at http://www.ledautomotive.com/HowToGu...imateHowTo.asp

 

Well, I have already taken the dash apart and replaced all 4 bulbs....like 3 weeks ago. Still dosent work. Dont know what else to do but turn the interior light on now to see it. Im bad with electrical components. Anyone have a suggestion of something I havent already done?? I thought I put this before, maybe it was my imagination. Anyone, anyone....anyone?? please help a brother out....bueller....bueller......bueller


randall

 

time to find a used instrument cluster.