All dash lights are out...
 

Hi guys,

The dash lights went out on my 240D. I mean, ALL of them. instrument cluster, as well as the heater controls, etc.

I pulled the gauge cluster, and while I was in there, I replaced some bulbs and also bypassed the dimmer, as it was never that bright even when it worked.

Checked using a multimeter, and the dimmer/rheostat has no power. Checked the fuse, it tests good.

Hmm. Where should I look next for troubleshooting? The headlight switch?

Sincerely,

PE

Remove the fuse and replace it with a copper type. Sometimes just rotating the fuse in its holder restores function. I presume you soldered a jumper wire across the 2 contacts on the dimmer reostat.

OK, thanks for the suggestion.

Yes I soldered a jumper wire across the 2 contacts on the dimmer. I figured that it was always turned to MAX anyways and the bulbs were tired anyways, so I swapped them all out. I should have checked power to the dimmer/rheostat before I started repairs.

There is no power, so yes, the fuse is certainly suspect.

I'll check it out.

Thanks,

PE

Follow the trace from the dimmer. As I recall, I had to solder a cracked solder joint on the PC board on my cluster to get the cluster lights to work.

Thanks for the hint! I will surely do so!

-PE

There's another recent thread or two about either climate control or shifter lights. Some diagrams, some pics of burned traces, etc.

I think the shifter light comes off the same fuse, but bypasses the cluster. If that's working, then the fuse is probably OK and the problem may lie in the cluster. I'm going off memory and didn't check my sources, so I may be wrong about the circuit path.

Thank you Yak, for the hint.

My 240D is a 4-speed manual, so I don't think it has a shifter light. But, I'll start with the dimmer switch and work my way back to see where the break in the system is. I just thought I'd pick you guys' brains. :)

Sincerely,

PE