Dash lights out

[Z-man]

Last weekend, driving home from Lime Rock, my dash lights started to flicker. Tapping the dash would bring them back on. Now, they are just out. (Fortunately, I don't drive much at night with the 944!) It's only the instrument console lights that are shot: everything else (like the turnsignal lights, brake indicator lights..etc) are functional.

I have the Hayes manual, so I'll start to decifer the wiring diagrams. And I guess I have a project for this weekend!

I'll start at the dimmer switch and work my way up and down from there. I'll also check the fuse to ensure that's not it. Anyone have other suggestions? Has this happened to others before? Hopefully, I won't have to take apart my dash to find the problem.

Thanks! Hopefully I won't be in the dark for long!!!
-Zoltan.

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My toy: http://www.pelicanparts.com/gallery/Z-man

[DennisR_944]

Check for burned out bulbs in ALL of your lights, Interior and exterior. I've found some strange relationships between the dash instrumentation and other lighting. Good luck.

Dennis Russell

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Dennis Russell
Indianapolis, IN USA
1987 944 n/a

[newoldguy]

Z-Man. I have the same problem! In addition, my sunroof works sporadically---always goes down but sometimes I have to hold down the switch for a long time before it goes up. Any problem with your sunroof operation? Could this be the relationship that Dennis is mentioning?

If we can figure this out we'll be geniuses!
Curtis '87 944 na

[Obin Robinson]

Z-man (et al):

check to make sure that there isn't a short in a wire under the dash. i've found that radios can often present themselves to be the culprit.

also, you might ahve a ground wire that has come loose, or even oxidized. check that out too.

if you're blowing fuses: it's a short. look for frayed wires.

if you're just getting flickering: it's a bad connection. look for loose wires or oxidized connections. also, check all potentiometers (like the dimmer wheel) or switches.

good luck!

obin

[Z-man]

Thanks guys for the advise. So far no luck yet...

The fuse is ok: tested it and it's no trouble.

I did install my new radio last month...but there were already a couple of bulbs out in the instrument pod...I'll remove the radio, check the connections, (look for mashed wiring) and reinstall.

Curtis: my sunroof works no prob. And the sunroof is not attached to the same fuse: it could be your microswitch starting to go...

Also: my aftermarket lic. plate frame light wasn't working: just installed a new frame/light last night hoping it would also solve the dash situation (the two are connected to the same fuse). No luck, but at least the rear lic. plate is now lit up at night!

I really don't want to rip apart my dash, but if I have to, do I really need to remove the steering wheel, or can it be done without that hassle? Bear in mind I have the newer dash...

I wonder if the problem is with the dash dimmer switch...

Thanks again guys: this place really helps with the troubleshooting.
-Zoltan.

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My toy: http://www.pelicanparts.com/gallery/Z-man

[This message has been edited by Z-man (edited 08-25-2001).]

[diannone]

pull the wheel, its not that big of a problem, mark it and the shaft so you get it back on straight. i just did mine w/a smaller wheel and had to pull it also. becarefull with the ribbon tape, there are little gizmos on the plugs to make them release from the cluster.
after even more dissassembly i wrapped the light hole and channels with stick foil tape (home depot heating) after carefully removing them from the cluster, use a sharp exacto and cut off the mushroom part then again carefully pry off and wipeing off all the old reflective material with MEK. i will try 2.2 watt bulbs from pepboys, i even put on white faces, from meister gauge faces. it looks great so far , hope this works?

[diannone]

and i dont know what to tell you about them being out other than a vom and the haynes manual. there seems to be a ground connection under the left side of the dash, easy to get to and clean.

[DennisR_944]

Have been working on my license plate light. Thought that the whole fixture had to be taken out to change the bulb. (Don't try it as it's next to impossible to get the screws out as they have some kind of sealant on the threads!) After messing with one side for hours, I finally got it apart only to find that the fixture that holds the bulb just pops out...Not the whole fixture.;( Be careful when replacing the bulb. Make sure that you lower it SLOWLY into the fixture with the nubs on the bulb lined up where they rest on the holder...or the bulb will drop down into the fixture. Fat chance of fishing it out. Might save someone else all of the trouble that I went through.
BTW...The bulbs are readily available at any auto parts store. I got mine at Advance A/P. Buck and a half.

Dennis Russell

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Dennis Russell
Indianapolis, IN USA
1987 944 n/a

[Booster]

Mine did the samething, I found the problem to be a loose ribbon cable on the back of the instrument panel.

[Obin Robinson]

Originally posted by Z-man:

The fuse is ok: tested it and it's no trouble.

I did install my new radio last month...but there were already a couple of bulbs out in the instrument pod...I'll remove the radio, check the connections, (look for mashed wiring) and reinstall.

aaaah, that tidbit you didn't add before! ok, look for loose ground wires. you might need to bust out the crimper and the wire strippers and the shirink tubing. i think i already know what is wrong... a ground came loose back in the area behind where the oil pressure/voltmeter guages are. look back there. you might even want to make new connections because if one is bent, the break may be under the insulation.

focus there to make sure no grounds are loose!

good luck!

obin

[Z-man]

Thanks again guys!
The lights flickered on for about 5 minutes last night.
I popped out the radio and looked around: everything seems to be connected ok...
Brown is ground, right?

Could it be just the bulbs loose?

Obin, I'll look more closely around and behind the radio unit.

-Zoltan.


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My toy: http://www.pelicanparts.com/gallery/Z-man

[This message has been edited by Z-man (edited 08-27-2001).]

[DennisR_944]

You might want to spray some TV tuner cleaner in the rotary switch and work it back and forth while you're at it. Can't hurt.

Dennis Russell

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Dennis Russell
Indianapolis, IN USA
1987 944 n/a