Hey guys I replaced the cluster lights with LED's as I was doing this I smelt something burning midway through the process but then it went away after a couple secs. I put everything back together then as I went to leave the house at night time I noticed with the light switch turned on the gauge cluster wasn't lit up but the rest of the dash lights were. The cluster works fine other than lights not functioning. Then I turned the **** on the dimmer switch and the gauge cluster lights came on but then the dash lights went dim. It almost seems like there's a reverse polarity with the turn of the **** on the dimmer switch. I checked all the fuses inside the car and under the hood nothing was burnt out. Any ideas on what the problem could be?

 

From another thread - yes, your suspicion is correct.

Re: Speedometer Printed Circuit Board Repair

This might belong in another thread, but I have a question about the cluster as well as the general dash lights and how they might interact. I've noticed that when my cruise control/roof box is plugged in, my forward cluster lights (the two that shine down on the faces of the gauges) go out. Also, having just replaced the cruise/roof and dimmer lights (to the left of the steering column) with LEDs, I have discovered they light up when the headlights are off, and go off when all the other interior dash lights come on... did I put them all in reverse (180-degrees off)? Advice? Is my car just haunted? Thanks.

09-11-2012, 05:24 AM #27
dejzebmoorbn
Trial User
faster and easier each time.

 

Join Date: Aug 2012
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Re: Speedometer Printed Circuit Board Repair

Ok, I solved this. It is irritating, so I hope to save someone else this hassle. We all know (or most of us) that the LEDs are polarized and only work when placed one of two ways. I have discovered this is not entirely true (though it seemed to be for the cigarette lighter). When you test to see if the LEDs light up, make sure you do so with the car headlights on so the correct circuits are being evaluated. I placed my LEDs with the car on, but the headlights off, so when I turned the headlights on the new LEDs turned off. Likewise, they only lit up with the headlights off - the reverse of all the other lights on the dash. The dimmer LED/circuit was pivotal, but I apparently also had a few reversed in the cluster (those forward lights I mentioned). Now it all works at the same time. Summary - test the LEDs with the headlights on if that is when you want them to light up (when it is dark outside). Ah, this was my 8th dive. It gets faster and easier each time.