Instrument panel lights MIA

AnnaCB · Post by **AnnaCB** » 24 May 2010, 10:42

Hi folks!

Yesterday, my dashboard went completely dark. Warning lamps still show for a moment when I start the car, so they aren't affected. My little digital readout (mileage, etc.) still works, I just can't see it at night anymore!

ALL of my other front panel lights are completely gone- the lights on my stereo, the AC lights, everything.
I checked the fuse for slot 35 (Instrument panel lights, power sun roof) and it was fine. In fact, I replaced it anyway, just to be sure.

The thing is, the fuse is fine. Not only that, but my sunroof still works with no problems.

What the heck? Am I looking at the wrong fuse?
Would this be a short somewhere else, and if so, where in the world do I start? It's extremely inconvenient to not be able to see anything, not to mention potentially dangerous.

AnnaCB · Post by **AnnaCB** » 24 May 2010, 11:13

Whoops, I jumped the gun on some of this.

Apparently the AC switch lights and the stereo light are fine.
What aren't fine are the speedometer/other meter lights and the light behind my digital readout and things like that.
When I turn the switch on for those lights, they don't work, but it STILL turns on the running lights (or whatever those lights are called); i.e. the tail lights and such. So the switch itself still works, as well as the sunroof motor which is supposedly on the same fuse as those lights. Is this just a multiple bulb failure or is there still a wire or fuse somewhere that can be messed with? This was an extremely sudden failure of all of them.

Post by **cn90** » 24 May 2010, 11:27

Did you just clean the inside of the car and accidentally hit the "Dimmer" switch wheel?

AnnaCB · Post by **AnnaCB** » 24 May 2010, 11:45

Absolutely not. I've been fiddling with the dimmer switch along with everything else, trying to get this fixed. That question seems like the equivalent of an IT professional's first question being "did you try turning your computer off and then back on again?" I'd love it if it were that easy.

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 24 May 2010, 11:46

I agree - Check the dimmer.
They also go bad, so you may just need a new one,
but they're pretty easy to change out, so no biggie!

whoa · Post by **whoa** » 24 May 2010, 11:50

That's a lot of bulbs to go out at once. Dimmer good possibility (failed unit, or coonector to it).

Does the sunroof work?

AnnaCB · Post by **AnnaCB** » 24 May 2010, 11:54

Yes, the sunroof works fine, I replaced that fuse anyway, just to be sure.

AnnaCB · Post by **AnnaCB** » 24 May 2010, 12:01

Any suggestions on how to check the dimmer or connector, or perhaps a link to someplace that could tell me?

Post by **cn90** » 24 May 2010, 13:04

Gently pry out the dimmer switch.
Disconnect the switch.
Now short both ends of the connector, if all lights are ON, the dimmer is bad.

: volvodimmer.jpg (18.3 KiB) Viewed 2973 times

AnnaCB · Post by **AnnaCB** » 24 May 2010, 13:12

Thanks a lot! I'll let you know how it goes.