irritating dash light issue

luthoro · Post by **luthoro** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:34 pm

Maybe someone knows whats going on here? Because I don't.

It started doing this about three weeks ago. The dash lights that come on with the headlights (HVAC and cluster) started flickering, going dim then bright and sometimes turning off entirely for a few moments. It got worse until now they are gone entirely, with the exception of flickering once last night while I was driving but they didn't stay on. Its not a fuse and its not just the cluster being burnt out because its the HVAC controls and such too. Every interior illumination associated with the headlights being on.

JustRob · Post by **JustRob** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 12:53 am

Sounds like the dimmer switch is bad.

gcef89 · Post by **gcef89** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 5:39 pm

if not the dimmer switch check for a loose wire

Waffles · Post by **Waffles** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 5:53 pm

I was also thinking dimmer switch or loose ground.

that1028guy · Post by **that1028guy** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:16 pm

I have had this same issue with my 94. Worked, flickered, didnt work. After sitting for 2 months or so, went and drove it the other day, and there back working for now. I tried to bypass the dimmer switch, and still couldnt get them to work. I believe my issue is a broken wire/bad ground somewhere. To cold to worry about it right now tho...

that1028guy · Post by **that1028guy** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 12:01 am

I finally got some time to go mess with the acorn. After pulling almost the whole dash out, I found my issue by accident. If you disassemble the dimmer switch ( 2 gold screws, and the housing pulls apart) and jump the middle and right (closest to the steering wheel when installed, has a black wire going to it.) terminals, my dash lights worked again. so I put a spot of solder between them as a temporary fix till I can aquire a new dimmer. Note that you will not be able to dim your dash lights, but its better than guessing how fast your going. Hope this helps!

Ej

luthoro · Post by **luthoro** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 3:36 am

that1028guy;286228 wrote:I finally got some time to go mess with the acorn. After pulling almost the whole dash out, I found my issue by accident. If you disassemble the dimmer switch ( 2 gold screws, and the housing pulls apart) and jump the middle and right (closest to the steering wheel when installed, has a black wire going to it.) terminals, my dash lights worked again. so I put a spot of solder between them as a temporary fix till I can aquire a new dimmer. Note that you will not be able to dim your dash lights, but its better than guessing how fast your going. Hope this helps!

Ej

yeah that is helpful info thanks bro

delslo · Post by **delslo** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 4:55 am

that1028guy;286228 wrote:I finally got some time to go mess with the acorn. After pulling almost the whole dash out, I found my issue by accident. If you disassemble the dimmer switch ( 2 gold screws, and the housing pulls apart) and jump the middle and right (closest to the steering wheel when installed, has a black wire going to it.) terminals, my dash lights worked again. so I put a spot of solder between them as a temporary fix till I can aquire a new dimmer. Note that you will not be able to dim your dash lights, but its better than guessing how fast your going. Hope this helps!

Ej

Great update!

stlhondas