Thread: D2a dash lights not lighting up.

Originally Posted by vbrab

Lost my dash lights years ago (to gauges etc, but odometer still has lights, and not ever been able to find out what is stopping them.
Doesn't have a dimmer like my earlier Disco's and I was told it was some sort of automatic "dimmer/dash light control situated in middle of dash near windscreen. (Nobody seemed to have a answer.
Anyway I'm thinking there might be some better info out there on where I should start looking to see what is preventing dash lights.
Anywhere I should look? and items that can prevent dash lights working? I think the lights stopped working after a radio was changed over, but they did not go near the console, BUT radio does fit near the knob in centre of dash which I am told is the unit that controls the dash lights (in place of a dimmer switch)???
Any suggestions?

Have you checked the globes?

I'm a bit confused by the "knob in the centre of the dash" that controls the lights comment.
Never seen one.
Dimmer (AFAIK) was never fitted to Aussie D2s, but had to be in Japan, and fitted to USA cars too.
I retro fitted the dimmer to my D1, just not yet to the D2.

Gauge lights power(or earth) is separate to the ODO light.
I haven't yet found the power(or earth, but most likely power) to the ODO globe.

If you're globes aren't blown, and unusual that all three have blown, but not impossible! ... there are a couple of places you can check for issues.
The most obvious spot to check would be Connector C0230(you need RAVE for that code).
If you remove the dash pod cowl, on top of the instrument pod are two black connectors. As you see them sitting in the seat, RHS connector is C0230(20 pin). LHS connector is C0233.

Many of the wires can be sensitive to voltage, so be careful, as they operate the gauges too.
Again, as you view the dash/connector still in it's position with the release latch in view, you see two rows of pins(wires). front row is pins 1-10 from right to left, and rear wire rows are pins 11-20 from left to right.

I know colours change in wiring, but on my cluster I have the two specific pins/wires that will operate the gauge globes are Red/Brown on pin 12(second on the left rear row) for power. And for earth, its the black wire on Pin 18(third from the RHS) there is another black earth wire on pin 17, next to it, fourth from the end too, but I think it's a dedicated earth for the gauges or warning lights.
If I power using power on the Red Brown wire and the correct earth, I get good power to the gauge globes. I've been testing various LED globes to see which work well, so I have a my spare cluster handy.
If you run the earth through the other earth(pin 17), I only get about a volt or so .. not enough to run the globes, super super dim.

I haven't yet found with line(s) power the ODO globe yet.

That connector is one possible spot to check for issues with all three gauge globes at one time. Gauge globes are std W5W wedge globes.

There are other possible spots where an issue can arise, but if you locate the power and earth wires on top of the cluster you can trace issues from there(instead of chasing your tail).
Possiblity: earth issue further to the dash pod. The pin 18 earth connects to another connector which then connects to an earth header. You could have an earth issue at the earth header on that specific pin coming from the earth header(eg. broken/loose/rusted).
You need RAVE to easily locate these connectors.

It's unlikely you have power issues from the main header IMO. The main header power shoots off in many directions for all manner of switches and globes all over the dash and glovebox ... etc.
If it were a power issue at the source, you'd have more dash lights out than just the gauge globes.

So for me, the easiest way to check for globes issues(apart from changing globes) is to run power and/or earth to the previously mentioned pins on the 20 pin connector. Straight battery power is fine(been testing with it for ages with no problems, but fused is safer.

If you don't get any light when you send power and a proper earth at the pins in the cluster, then it is most likely a trace issue with the circuit panel on the back of the cluster.

Originally Posted by vbrab

Lost my dash lights years ago (to gauges etc, but odometer still has lights, and not ever been able to find out what is stopping them.

What's etc(beside "et cetera") ?... do you mean all the switches and aircon, radio, clock included?. It's important to know exactly which ones

Originally Posted by FNQLR

Have you checked the globes?

RE: Checking globes. Have checked when it first happened, seemed to be OK. ODD that all globes went out on same day, so I am expecting issue will be something common to power to dash (except that odometer still lights up??)

Originally Posted by sierrafery

What's etc(beside "et cetera") ?... do you mean all the switches and aircon, radio, clock included?. It's important to know exactly which ones

Everything else that is not in the globes/lights in the dash console works correctly and lights up. It is just the globes/lights around temp, fuel, speedo/tacho that do not light up. Lights in centre of dash on temp controls etc all good. (??)

In D2a there is a dome shaped knob size of 10 cent piece in centre of top of dash,40mm in from windscreen.
I was told it was an "automatic" dimmer for dash lights (since they took out the dimmer found in earlier Disco's). WHY change it??
Car was bought new in Australia, not import so should be just normal like every other D2a sold here.
And thanks for all the check options, at least I have a start point now, as it has been in the "too hard" basket for long enough and it is the only thing that doesn't work.

Originally Posted by AK83

I'm a bit confused by the "knob in the centre of the dash" that controls the lights comment.
Never seen one.
Dimmer (AFAIK) was never fitted to Aussie D2s, but had to be in Japan, and fitted to USA cars too.
I retro fitted the dimmer to my D1, just not yet to the D2.

Gauge lights power(or earth) is separate to the ODO light.
I haven't yet found the power(or earth, but most likely power) to the ODO globe.

If you're globes aren't blown, and unusual that all three have blown, but not impossible! ... there are a couple of places you can check for issues.
The most obvious spot to check would be Connector C0230(you need RAVE for that code).
If you remove the dash pod cowl, on top of the instrument pod are two black connectors. As you see them sitting in the seat, RHS connector is C0230(20 pin). LHS connector is C0233.

Many of the wires can be sensitive to voltage, so be careful, as they operate the gauges too.
Again, as you view the dash/connector still in it's position with the release latch in view, you see two rows of pins(wires). front row is pins 1-10 from right to left, and rear wire rows are pins 11-20 from left to right.

I know colours change in wiring, but on my cluster I have the two specific pins/wires that will operate the gauge globes are Red/Brown on pin 12(second on the left rear row) for power. And for earth, its the black wire on Pin 18(third from the RHS) there is another black earth wire on pin 17, next to it, fourth from the end too, but I think it's a dedicated earth for the gauges or warning lights.
If I power using power on the Red Brown wire and the correct earth, I get good power to the gauge globes. I've been testing various LED globes to see which work well, so I have a my spare cluster handy.
If you run the earth through the other earth(pin 17), I only get about a volt or so .. not enough to run the globes, super super dim.

I haven't yet found with line(s) power the ODO globe yet.

That connector is one possible spot to check for issues with all three gauge globes at one time. Gauge globes are std W5W wedge globes.

There are other possible spots where an issue can arise, but if you locate the power and earth wires on top of the cluster you can trace issues from there(instead of chasing your tail).
Possiblity: earth issue further to the dash pod. The pin 18 earth connects to another connector which then connects to an earth header. You could have an earth issue at the earth header on that specific pin coming from the earth header(eg. broken/loose/rusted).
You need RAVE to easily locate these connectors.

It's unlikely you have power issues from the main header IMO. The main header power shoots off in many directions for all manner of switches and globes all over the dash and glovebox ... etc.
If it were a power issue at the source, you'd have more dash lights out than just the gauge globes.

So for me, the easiest way to check for globes issues(apart from changing globes) is to run power and/or earth to the previously mentioned pins on the 20 pin connector. Straight battery power is fine(been testing with it for ages with no problems, but fused is safer.

If you don't get any light when you send power and a proper earth at the pins in the cluster, then it is most likely a trace issue with the circuit panel on the back of the cluster.