Instrument panel lights out... (wiring questions)

[BonnieS125]

Well my instruments panel lights have been out and I've decided it's time to get to the bottom of it. Around the time they went out I disconnected and old car alarm component under the glove box and think i may have perhaps severed a wire relating to my instrument panel. Is that possible? If so, being that I don't have a wiring schematic and I'm waiting on my Haynes manual to arrive does anyone know the wire color I should be looking for when poking around near that glove box area where the damage mat have occurred. (Note: it's just the illumination lighting that's out. The battery indicator, fuel light, etc. are fine).


-1987 924S

[rammstein]

sometimes, when its cold outside (all winter) the lights for my instrument cluster go out. Once it has warmed up sufficiently, a good blunt punch will get them back on.

[profssr2017]

Make sure you didn't turn the instrument dimmer switch all the way down. Just check it to see before going any further.

[BonnieS125]

Yeah the dimmer was the first thing I checked, and unfortunately it's not that, and I've tried a good smack or 2 as well but to no avail and it's now been a couple of months without instrument panel lights.
From poking around under the glove compartment area again I see several cut wires from the old car alarm and am still wondering if any of them could have been a panel wire. Hmm let me know if any of you know the wire color that could be the culprit (and if it could be under the dash), and if not, I guess I'll have to do some tracing back and taking apart!
Thanks!!

[Moneyguy1]

Look for blue/white striped wires. Also, do the lights for the little center console go out as well? If lights are intermittent, generally means a loose connection somewhere, either the hot or the ground; either will do it.

[Roger Hall]

Instrument lighting is pretty straight forward. Problem is getting to it. Have you checked fuses and relays? I am not sure if there is one just for the instrument lights. Pull out the glove box and check the wires that should go to the glove box light. I cant remember but I think blue white is right for the positive the ground is brown. Its at the end of the harness if I remember so I doubt its the problem. After that pull the instrument cluster and trace the wires back.

[97XRAY]

Well, I only have info on the early cars - I don't know how much difference there is:
In my case, I was able to pick up 6 new bulbs from an Autozone that were 2.3W for <$6.00 and are about twice as bright as the old ones (rated 3W) ever were.
I then removed the screws in the top of the instrument cluster and removed the steering wheel (not hard at all) and pulled the cluster - gently - out, unplugging whatever I needed to. Here it's important to note: keep track of what the plugs look like and where they go.
I then simply pulled out the glass portion of the old light bulbs and inserted the new lights.
And that's that.
Now... if you have an electrical problem somewhere upstream - this is useless information!

[Z-man]

I've been chasing a dash light probelm ever since I've owned my car (1.5 years). My dash is different, and my dash lights are connected to the circuit board that's layed onto the back of the instrument guage cluster, so the setup is vastly different.

I have had the dash apart some three times so far, and everytime I think I got it licked, the dash lights do out again!

Check for shorts, and make sure that all contacts are not loose.

I am considering getting one of them "Bling Bling" blue lights you plug into your ciggie lighter. Then I'll have to buy them cool exhaust whistlers! Whoot! Whoot!

-Z-man.

[profssr2017]

Don't forget - you can also get the exhaust tips with matching LED's so you be fashionable!

[Z-man]

And the light-up wiper nozzles: I can't forget about those!