M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS
DISCUSSION => Electrical => Topic started by: Montanvs on July 06, 2010, 09:36:33 PM
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Just wondering if anyone else has had an issue with the instrument cluster back lights? Mine has half a side (right side) that does not go on......well sometimes it does. Usually a tap on the dashboard lights it up fully.
It clearly is not the bulbs. Loose connector?
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Same deal for me. I like feeling like the fonz though.
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The three main bulbs share a pair of strip contacts that run across the back of the dash plate. The three larger sockets unscrew and will accept a replacement wedge bulb. Replace all three while you're in there, it's a pretty tedious job...especially if you still have an airbag.
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since the bulbs seem to still work is it possible that some sort of corrosion has made the strip contacts intermittent? The bulbs clearly still work at this point.
I dont have an airbag steering wheel, so should be easier to replace.
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It's just a bit time consuming, and while you have it all apart, it would be a good time to replace these bulbs. It's a few bucks vs a few hours of work if one goes out a week after you clean up the sockets.