About a month ago I noticed that when my lights were on the RPM part of the instrument cluster was dimmer than the speedo cluster. Every now and then it would resume it's normal level of brightness on it's own. A couple of days ago when I would turn the light switch on all of the exterior lights would come on but none of the interior lights would. However, after a short delay (usually 10-20 seconds) the interior lights would come on. Since that time it does it every now and then but not all the time. In addition when it does do this, sometimes the interior lights won't come on at all until I use the turn signal which is just very, very odd. I thought it might be the switch that is defective or maybe the dimmer switch but both seem to work fine.

Anyone have any suggestions on what the problem is? Thanks in advance.

 

My guess would be a loose connection or a short somewhere; electrical problems are teh suk!

GL

 

You might have two problems. The dim RPM light sound like one bulb is flaky. All of the dash lights get p[ower from the same point, so to get uneven light in the instrument cluster narrows the problem to one point.
The rest of the interior lights intermittantly not coming on is a little harder. You almost need the manual and a meter to figure that one out.

 

Yeah, that's a good point. Now I just have to find a bulb to replace that one with. Not that I know how to do that exactly. I'll remove the cluster and take a look as to how it's setup. Anyone ever replaced one of those bulbs before?

As far as the whole light situation, guess I'll have to go into detail figuring out what the deal is there.

 

I can tell you what your problem is.... check the dash brightness control. all the instrument panel lights run through it and when it fails... no instument lights... just like you described.

oh the dim RPM is likely to be a flakey bulb like matt said

 

Well the brightness control works as it's supposed to. I guess it could be going out though. I'll probably go down to a salvage yard and pick one up.

 

Well one of the problem's has been solved. I replaced the dimmer switch with one I picked up at a junkyard. That seems to have solved the lights coming on problem. I also ordered a few lights for the I.C. so I'll put those in this week or next week and see how it goes.

Thanks for all the help.