Dash Lights..

[AdMan]

Been putting up with it for quite some time now, but a few months ago (yes I know) the illumination on my dash decided to play up. Didnt just go out straight away. A few times of, flicker off and on. Then it never worked again..

I took the cluster out, had a look at the wiring and everything seems to be ok. Im not the most observant person in the world so I might of missed something. Anyway, I put it back together again after lookin at it and had the most confused look on my face. So I left it...

But its really driving me mad now... everything works ok. Just at night its a little hard to see, well its black basically... Had a few problems with the brightness control under the steering wheel on the right. Maybe it has something to do with it.. Had a play with that, but no luck. All the air con controls are illuminated, and just the clock on the dash, but thats it.

Honestly dont know what else to check.

Appreciate the help.

Thanks

Adam.

[Nic_A31]

All 4 lights are out?

Very unlikely each of your bulbs blew at the same time, but check, 3 are 194 T10 size, theres a smaller T5 size in there too, stupid cluster, and another part of our Cefiro's that are very sensetive to being connected properly.

The illumination for the clock is controlled by a fuse.

Illuminatin of the gauges, AirCon, etc is all under the tail lamp fuse, so they either all work, or all not work.

Probably the wiring harness, check that, or try a different cluster.

[AdMan]

Yeah they are not working... I was completely lost when I pulled it apart lol. Might try get some courage to have another look soon.

Cheers man, appreaciate the help.

[daisu]

Had a few problems with the brightness control under the steering wheel on the right. Maybe it has something to do with it.. Had a play with that, but no luck.

What problems were you having and what did you try doing to fix it?

The brightness control is an aftermarket addition made during compliance when they come into australia. I find the dash lights are very dim even on the brightest setting so I'd suggest just removing the dimmer control altogether. The dimmer should have two wires on the back of it, one connects to the dash cluster and the other is a 12V supply which is switched on with the parkers. Get your multimeter out and check that you are getting 12V at the dimmer when you turn the lights on. If there is 12V with the lights on then bypass the dimmer by joining the two wires. Dash lights should now work.

If not then trace the wire from the dimmer up to the dash cluster and look for anything suss.

If you don't have 12V at the dimmer when you turn the lights on then trace that wire back (i'm not sure exactly where it goes, maybe a relay or the fusebox or something).

If you still can't find the problem then, take your headunit out and should find an unused wire for illuminating the factory headunits. Extend this illumination wire upto the dimmer switch and use this as the new 12V supply for your dash illumination. If you want to keep your dimmer then connect it to the dimmer and connect the cluster to the other side of the dimmer. If you can't be bothered with the dimmer then just join the two wires together.

I'd also suggest replacing the bulbs with LED's, make the cluster heaps easier to see.

[Nic_A31]

Is the dimmer required for registration?

My Ceffy has been complianced and registered before (NSW), but never had a dimmer installed.

The only switches missing are the two near the handbrake, for when it used to be an auto.

[daisu]

It is a requirement for compliance. Half the imports I see never had a dimmer installed, or they have them removed.

Technically it is a requirement, but it isn't something that is checked during rego or during a defect check.

[AdMan]

Awesome. Not bothered about the dimmer.. After the lights went out I had a look at it (the dimmer switch) and well, I couldnt get the damn thing back in properly.. Never thought about checking to see if there is power going to it, just moved it back and forwards incase it was on low setting but did nothing.

Cheers Luke.. Appreciate that heaps.