2000 model.

Every light works on the gauge cluster except the part where it reads the milage, temp, the figure of the car and trip..etc. I don't know what it's called specifically, so I cannot perform a search.

This seems like a blown fuse, because if I tip into steptronic, the red number indicating the gear will not light up as well.

Can anyone shed some light as which fush is responsible for it?

 

ahh, i never heard of those burning out, maybe the plug in the back of the instrument cluster just fell out, inspect that.

 

my 2000 tl does this also. its been out for almost a year now. can't even use SS because i can't see what gear i'm in.

 

so how do you pass inspection without mileage being shown?

 

you can still see it, but it isn't bright, it looks like a shadow. i don't know whats wrong and will probably take it to the shop when i have some money saved up.

 

UPDATE:

so I finally took the time to remove the gauge cluster.

I got upto the point the entire gauge cluster is removed from the dashbroad (Not opened up).

The 3 green wire connecting to the gauge cluster is snug and tight. On the back of the cluster is the 4 red led bulbs that's responsible for illuminating the LCD and the Step-tronic shifter light.

I inspect each one by twisting them out and the fuse inside looks fine. There is no freaking way all 4 bulbs burn out at once.

The thing is, the LCD/Steptronic light stopped working for 3 months, and just 2 weeks ago, miraculously, they came back working again, but only lasted 3 days.

If it's not the connectiong, not the bulbs, what could've caused the problem?

Is there a fuse that is responsible for it?

The LCD works fine, the only problem is that it is not bright enough to read, and completely dark at night.

What should I do?

Inpeng, you had the chance to check out the problem?

 

I would just change the LED bulbs anyways since they are quite easy to change as you have the dash apart and inexpensive anyways. See if that solves the problem if not then worry about it further.

 

haven't had the time to take it in yet, just driving around with a dark gauge.

 

The same thing was happening to my 03 tl-s. mine would go out for a weeks at a time. and then would come on by it self. I got 65 thousand miles and its a good thing i had the extended warranty. I took it into the dealer and they tried to give me the o key doke!
SO i grabbed him by the neck, shook the shit out of him and threated to kill him family. and he found a way for the extended warrenty to cover it. LOL
j/king its 1100 to fix it without the warranty. its a malfunction in the grid.

 

That's the last thing I want to hear.....that it's the board itself.

Time to look for salvage TLs :p

Can I migrate one in while the milage stays the same?

 

There is a multipin connector on the back side of the cluster circuit board (Its NOT the ones that are part of the 2 thick wiring harnesses that attach the cluster to the car. Its a white plug with a series of about 7 or eight white wires coming out of the back side of the cluster itself and goes from one part of the cluster to another.). If its not pushed all the way in, the display will not light up but the LCD numbers still work. This sounds very much as you described. When you pulled out the cluster, did you check to see if this connector was all the way in?

See picture:

 

what is a malfunction in the grid? 1100 to fix or replace, dang that is alot. can it be as easy as pushing the white connector in more? i'm mechanically challenged, so i don't think i will be doing this for a while.....

 

Yes, I remember pressing on that white plug. While the cluster is out, I pretty much pressed on everything there is on it.

Can I pull it out and reinsert it?