dash lights

[Thai GI]

1) The dash lights on my 87 190E is not working, When I got in and drove it last night that’s when it happen, I turn the head lights on it came on but no dash lights! It worked the night before, so not sure what’s going on.
2) This morning I’d check the fuse (main fuse box under the hood) it was ok, but changed it anyways just incase there’s hairline cracks, turn the dimmer back and forth a few times, also check the reverse lights it worked ok too.
3) The auto gear shifter light is the only one that works, but I don’t think it’s in the same path. I’m in the process of moving so I don’t have the manuals with me.
4) I’ve been searching the posts, a lot about another fuse behind the instrument cluster, I don’t have one if I recall when I took this assembly out to replace the capacitors on the clock.
5) My questions are:
a) Am I looking in the wrong place for the “fuse” that some of you are talking about?
b) If no fuse in my car (87 model but manufactured date Nov 86), what could be wrong?

Thanks for any help
Thai GI sends…

[J.HIDALGO]

I had a problem like that. I ended up taking my cluster to Steve Brotherton to solder some wires behind the cluster. In my case though, I was replacing some lightbulbs and I had a short, since my car does no have a fuse behind the cluster, apparently it fried the "weakest link".
I hope that is not the case in your vehicle!
Good luck!
p.s. Double check for the fuse. It looks like a lightbulb but, it is red.

[Thai GI]

1. It does seem like a fuse thing because the radio, climate control, fan speed and the power window switches are also not illuminating. I can’t find this fuse back there I don’t think I have one, I’d unscrew all the black/brown lamp holders and they are all lamps large and small. Could youall tell the exact location for this fuse?
2. I can solder too, I mean look I’d replace the capacitors on the clock this past summer but I don’t think it’s a short, because I didn’t have the instrument cluster out for any reason since then, it just went, I had the car for over 11 years and this was the first time… I drove it parked it, When I got in and drove it the next night that’s when it happen, I turn the head lights on, they came on but no dash lights! Not sure what’s going on.

Thai GI sends...

[J.HIDALGO]

looking at the speedo from behind, it should be in the 1 or 2 o'clock location. From your description, you may not have a fuse. My car had a couple of wires with a short, behind the speedometer. You may also try to replace the light dimmer switch (they do go bad), they are cheap.
By the way, ALL of my dash lights were gone, except for the shifter.
Happy hunting!

[Thai GI]

1. As mention earlier I’m in the process of moving house, I have the body/chassis manual but can’t get to the electrical troubleshooting manual.
2. Can anyone tell me where the “Terminal block” X6 is located at on a 87 190E?
3. When I find this X6, I’m going to jump it with the cigarette lighter lamp, if this works it would pin point the problem to the illumination rheostat/dimmer switch right?

Thai GI sends…

[Thai GI]

1. Well I guess no one had the time or knows where X6 was located at, and I didn’t trace where it went ether it would be to tasking right now.
2. Looking at the wire diagram shows that X6 has many feeds; one is to the radio (main jack, wire #3 gray/blue). I jumped this with the positive side of ashtray lamp (gray/green) and wow I got dash lights!

3. This answered the question, as some of youall might have suspected it was the illumination rheostat/dimmer switch, it’s a big job even with my small Thai hands but I’ll go into it soon and see what’s wrong maybe a resolder or a cleaning with an eraser will do the trick, it’s already broke so if that doesn’t work then I"ll buy a new one. Will let youall know how it turns out.



Thai GI sends…

[Thai GI]

1. Finally got this done and no it wasn’t the rheostat.

2. I had ordered a new rheostat to replace but it didn’t work.

3. Did the soldiering thing on all the joints still no luck.

4. Troubleshoot to the circuit card seams like an open on it, I removed the whole assembly of the fuel, temperature, oil pressure and economy off the card. Not to hard of a job just need to take your time. What I’ve found out underneath was something I’ve never seen before in my electronic world experience but the path was broken also lifted from the board like a broken bridge, wished I had a picture. I think this was the "weakest link" that you have talked about. From here I just pile some solder on top and link them back, now it was good to go!

5. Lessens learned: troubleshoot to the last point before the suspected component in this case I should remove the rheostat and jump the two points to see if I get dash lights if not then go from there.


Thai GI sends...