Hi All,
I would appreciate some help, if anyone has any idea. I have an 85 300SD, and the left side of the dash does not light up with the lights on, but the dimmer does work (that is, it dims and brightens the right side of the instrument cluster). I replaced all of the bulbs, and took the rheostat apart and tested it, seems OK. The right side lights up fine, and all the fuses look OK.
Any ideas what else I might try? It's getting kind of annoying to have to turn on the overhead light to see how fast you're going at night!
Thanks for any and all help
Jim

You will have to check the integrity of the light socket area that is not lighting. Also check for a break in any trace that conducts electricity to that socket. The ground for that light socket that is out will also need checking. Do not neglect the possibility of oxided contacts for the bulb.

An ohmeter is better than visually but you might visually locate the issue s well. It should be within the capabilities of the average guy. You remove the bulb and check back to the source for continuity. Then do the same with the ground portion of the circuit.

Not much else it could be in my opinion. Both bulbs are fed from the same common source. In this case from one side of the light dimmer control. If you locate the break just carefully solder a jumper over it. You know the dimmer is fine as one side of the circuit repsonds well from it.

Thanks, Barry! Any idea where the ground is?
Jim