M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => Electrical => Topic started by: SoupieMelody on November 08, 2009, 07:34:46 AM

Title: Dashboard light and cluster lights
Post by: SoupieMelody on November 08, 2009, 07:34:46 AM

The backlit light in the dashboard and cluster doesn't light up. the high beam light, indicator and those other lights work, just the two bulbs behind the cluster and the others that light up the hvac does not work. i replaced all the related ruse and still no success, any help? thank you

Title: Dashboard light and cluster lights
Post by: Jorgeconrico on November 08, 2009, 07:40:03 AM

There is a good write up on replacing the dash lights under the how to section. Good luck

Check under "how to quick reference" and it should be there

Edit: Sorry I just checked out a previous thread you had and I didn't know you had the cluster out already

Title: Dashboard light and cluster lights
Post by: AcSchnitzer318is on November 09, 2009, 09:02:49 AM

If you know the bulbs are good... then you need a new cluster board.  The solders on those can break and it is a pain tracing them.  Good luck.

Title: Dashboard light and cluster lights
Post by: SoupieMelody on November 10, 2009, 06:56:16 PM

Quote from: AcSchnitzer318is;81137

If you know the bulbs are good... then you need a new cluster board.  The solders on those can break and it is a pain tracing them.  Good luck.

well i replace and put in a working cluster and still the same problem. reminder all the other bulbs in the cluster works.

Title: Dashboard light and cluster lights
Post by: DesktopDave on November 11, 2009, 08:22:55 AM

Is this an e30 or e36?  My e30 had dead SI batteries, I couldn't reset the service light.  The e36 display might be bad capacitors or a ground connection.

Title: Dashboard light and cluster lights
Post by: SoupieMelody on November 11, 2009, 06:16:06 PM

Quote from: DesktopDave;81275

Is this an e30 or e36?  My e30 had dead SI batteries, I couldn't reset the service light.  The e36 display might be bad capacitors or a ground connection.

its an e30 and the service lights are not on and i reset them months ago...also i tried 3 different clusters and still same problem. also the light obc lights are not on but the display works, but when i turn the headlights on the obc display light dims

Title: Dashboard light and cluster lights
Post by: DesktopDave on November 11, 2009, 06:25:11 PM

I don't know where those lights get their power from.  I don't think there is a specific fuse that controls those lights alone but I'm sure they all run off the dimmer in the headlight switch.  But you tested the dimmer...maybe two wires run from it?

I'd suspect a bad ground off one.  The HVAC bulbs should be easiest to trace, definitely easier to get to.  I hope it's not a break in the harness, that's a really thick bundle of wires to go chasing through.

Title: Dashboard light and cluster lights
Post by: SoupieMelody on November 14, 2009, 06:02:30 AM

Thanks everyone, it turned out the headlight switch was bad, so the problem is solved now

Title: Dashboard light and cluster lights
Post by: naika on November 24, 2009, 04:05:17 PM

I've been searching for the exact same problem for months and suspected the headlight switch but never got to try another one, and there you confirming what I thought. I'm going to get a new switch ASAP!!!
Thanks ;)

Title: Dashboard light and cluster lights
Post by: DesktopDave on September 02, 2010, 08:52:42 PM

I know this thread is nearly a year old, but I had to share.  This just happened to me!  I'm glad I found the thread AFTER I solved the problem.  :mad:

My $200 325e auto that will not die gave up its 13-button OBC.

I kept swapping bulbs into that damn OBC button backlight to test it out before it goes into the 318i.  :confused:  Finally it dawned on me...maybe the lights aren't working off the dimmer?  Yup.  :cool:

I'll be adding some orange LEDs pretty soon (all my light bars are dead), stay posted.