W124 No dashboard lights or interior lights?
 

Hi,

I have a 320CE which I purchased recently and using the car for the first time in the dark, I've noticed that the car has no interior lights, ie dashboard completely black, centre console...non of the switches are lit up and only the spot lights work on the cabin light, ie the light does not come on when you open the door....+ only the cabin lights in the door bottoms come on when you open the door.

Any Clues?

Have you given the odometer reset button a twist? That's the rheostat for the interior instrument brightness control.

Check fuses (and their contact points in the fuse box). Fuse #9 comes to mind.

Checked rheostat some days ago and nothing happened, have also checked fuses and they are fine.

Just to clarify....in addition to the dashboard lights not working, none of the buttons on the centre console are illuminated either, ie the heater dials, air-con buttons etc etc.

Also the interior light by the sunroof will only work if you use the spot light/map light and will not illuminate when the doors open.

Does this give any further clues?

Have you checked the fuses already?

Re fuses...yes, I've checked them and they are fine.

If the rheostat didn't do anything, then you've not eliminated it as a problem. For instance, if it's failed/fried, then that would explain the lack of illumination.

If the cluster instruments, like the tach, fuel gauge, clock, etc. function then it's safe to say that the cluster is getting voltage. While it could be possible for both cluster bulbs, the CC control bulbs and the shifter console bulb to burn out at the same time, it's unlikely. The only device that I can think of that ties all these together is the rheostat.