dashlights issue 97 850 RESOLVED, loose connector

[wilson850r]

There is power at the pink and does not vary at all when switch adjusted. In this car I have no lights at all on any of the dash or instruments. We could start replacing blubs but three have tested good on our meter.

[BEJinFbk]

Long shot - Is there power on the pink if you unplug the dimmer?

[rspi]

Mixing info on forum threads is never a good idea. Start a new thread for your spare tire issue.

[BEJinFbk]

More pertinent questions:
Has there been any recent work done on the car/dash?
Any aftermarket gauges in this car?
Is the radio factory stock?
How's the wiring behind the radio?

[wilson850r]

The dash was loose when I bought it. There are no after market gauges and the radio is factory with wiring looking fine. I do have a problem with the sound on the radio fading out when I hit a bump. Will come back on when I push on front of radio. Going to look for a loose wire on any plugs this weekend.

[drtrance]

Any idea on what to check it there is juice on the dimmer?

[BEJinFbk]

If there's power leaving the dimmer on the pink wire,
and it varies with the dimmer control, the lamps and
their grounds would be the next thiongs to look at.

It looks like most of the lamps ground in the wiring
distribution blocks in the dash. The grounding point for
that block seem to be all the way back to the battery.

If I had it in front of me, I'd get a meter out and start
running down the line using the diagrams posted earlier
in this string.

[wilson850r]

My apologies for the delay on updated this post. I had replaced the ignition switch but was still having trouble turning off and figured it was a bad switch. It ended up being the tumbler as when a new switch was installed key stuck in start position burning some wires in column. After all that still no lights. It seems to have power to the cluster but not out of it. I am hoping this cluster is not bad. Quick question to all, when you turn off the ignition does your fuel and temperature indicators stop at the bottom line or go all the way to the bottom pointing straight down. On my 95 850 I seem to remember the fuel guage stopping at the empty line when car was off. More updates after working on it tomorrow.

[wilson850r]

Update on this repair.

Replaced dimmer switch
Replaced instrument cluster (did fix fuel guage which registers correctly now)

Still no dash lights. According to All Data and Chilton manual there is a 10 amp fuse located under the passenger seat that controls ABS (that light is on), backup lights. Does anyone know we're this fuse is located or if it exsists? I don't want to pu the seat out, any advice will keep me from pulling my hair out.

[wilson850r]

It has been a long time but as embarassing as it is thought I might share in case someone else runs in to the same situation. Had spend many dollars having electrical people check why I had no dash lights even after replacing the dimmer switch and cluster. Since this is now the parts car pulled the center console out to use in the sedan. When I went to disconnect the two lower plugs in front the grey one was already loose. Thought maybe I had just pulled too hard on the console and it disconnected. Put the parts from the sedan back in the wagon, as I am still not sold on getting rid of it, plugged both switches in and guess what - Dash Lights work. I would scream if it was not so funny.

I know the usual culprit is the dimmer switch, but before tearing the dash apart take the console out first and see if both the black and grey connectors are snapped in place. Hope this might save somebody extra time and effort.