My dashboard lights don't work. Anybody have any suggestions? thanks.

What year & model car???

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The dashboard lights on my 1984 300TD seem to not be working completely. One side of the instrument panel has light on it, but the other side is dark. Are there two bulbs in there? Are they hard to get to?

Didn't mean to hijack your thread, Phlatc, but thought this might be relevant to you, too.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

It's a 1984 380SL.

On my 78 300D it is the rheostat (dimmer). If i tap on it the lights will come on. Try jumping it at the rheostat and see if they come on.

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1959 Gravely LI, 1963 Gravely L8, 1973 Gravely C12
1982 380SL
1978 450 SEL 6.9 euro restoration at 63% and climbing
1987 300 D
2005 CDI European Delivery
2006 CDI Handed down to daughter
2007 GL CDI. Wifes

On my 560SL, there are 2, both at the top of the cluster. One is 'hard-wired' to the cluster (gray or red, I forget which, one is attached to the holder) and gets its power (or ground) from contact with the casing when you turn/insert it into the socket. The other has spring-loaded tangs that contact the printed circuit when the holder is pushed in and turned.
Both bulb holders are about 2 1/2" long black plastic 'tubes' that put the bulbs at the front of the cluster. One illuminates the tach, the other all the other instruments.
I'll add that they are both really flakey, in that I tested the bulbs for function, inserted them properly, then made sure the holders were seated right. I even verified that they were working with the cluster out of the dash, then again after putting everything back in. After re-installing the steering wheel, I STILL have to tap the cluster from time to time to get 'em both to work.
And, BTW, solder a wire across the rheostat terminals while the cluster is out. This will eliminate this pesky piece of s**t as a source of trouble (like your lights go out while driving at night!)

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1986 560SL
2002 Toyota Camry
1993 Lexus

Sounds like mine are similar to yours. Thanks for the info.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles