Subject pretty well says it. At night the speedo, clock etc are difficult to read.

By day the warning lights are difficult to see when on; the other day the alternator belt went and the red warning light was invisible.

*All* lights behind that glass seem to be dim.

Any suggestions as to where I should start?

TIA

Neil Wigley
'85 300D, 166K
San Diego

Doesnt your car have adjustable lamps brightness?

The left hand knob on the dash (to reset the trip meter) Try turning it and see what happens ;-)

I didnt know about this either.... great bit of engineering!

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Brian Drought
1991 300CE
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~drought/
ICQ: 2180069

The speedo, clock, etc., run off the rheostat (trip mileage knob twisted), but the warning lights certainly do not. And all of those lights are dim, warning lights included.

Neil

So even w/ the key in the on position, engine off, the warning lights are dim? Did this just happen or has it always been this way? You may have to pull the cluster and check voltage to anyone of the dim lights, then check grounds. Really weird problem, really sounds like a bad ground... Ever see a car with 1 dim headlight? Bad ground.
Wish I knew were your cluster ground is located, there's so freakin many! My electrical trouble shooting book goes back as far as 86. Anyone else?
Good luck,
Chris C.

With the key on and engine off the lights will be dim. The best indicator is the parking brake light. If it is OK in birghtness the others will be as well. In many cases, the charge light will not come on in the event of a charging system failure because the light relies on the brush set inside of the alt to light it. If one of the brushes goes, the light does not work.

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Benzmac:
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