Dash Lights
 

I cannot seem to get my insturment cluster lights to work. I replaced the spin knob (Is it called a rheostat?) and I replaced the bulbs and spun them into the holes in the cluster panel. What am I missing?

I am thinking about bypassing the panel and just wire up some lights.

Any help/advice here guys??

Pull off the rheostat that is on the left-hand side of the instrument cluster (from behind). There should be two contact poles that go into it, still on the printed board. Bridge these two terminals and then turn on the lights.

Also: when you turn on the lights, do your other interior bulbs come on (knobs, switches, etc.)?

All of the middle lights (Near the shifter) lights work. The CCU lights work. It is just the cluster lights that don't work. So you are sating take off the rheostat and connect the 2 probes with piece of copper wire, then turn the lights on?

I believe that is what he is inferring. Do the rest of the lights dim/brighten with the rheostat? If they do, are the cluster lights burned out?

John

If the middle lights light up then the rheostat is not the problem. I would still jump it as no one has ever complained about these clusters being too bright. Chances are you have a bad ground. Trace all of the PCB circuits.

The "middle lights" are on a different system, the dash lights do go through the rheostat, not so with the middles. There are two bulbs for the dash, circled, and the rheostat "squared".

My W123 middle lights (and window switch lights) are controlled by the rheostat.

Mine too!

The two fastest ways to narrow down your trouble are:

1. check that you have 12v going to the rheostat, and a varying voltage coming out of it as you turn it. This will verify you are getting power there.

2. Make sure all the screws connecting the 3 metal backing plates are tight & that they are free of corrosion between the plates where they overlap, then connect a wire from one of the screws back to a good source of ground. This will establish if you have a faulty ground.

Being that you already replaced the bulbs and the rheostat, I'm betting you are going to find it's a bad ground issue. Check all of the solder joints at the round connector for fractures.

Wow Guys thanks so very much that is very helpful.

Sorry to confuse folks, I just checked... they ARE controlled by the rheostat. In the CD, I'm having an issue, and never payed attention to the other lights. Learn something new every day!