02 F50 smoke from dash!!

[britinmn]

For all the other F50 owners out there, I hope this doesn't happen to you!!

Got 5 mins into my commute today - instrument cluster flickers on and off rapidly, and there's a strong burning smell .... holy crap!! Cluster lights went out completely and smoke starts coming out of the dash... not a lot, but enough to scare the pants off me!!

Instrument cluster still works fine, you just can;t really see anything - so I drive the 5 mins back home with the windows open to provide a little ventilation/cooling.

After consulting the trusty FSM (those things are worth their weight in gold!) I discovered that the lighting for the instrument cluster is provided by a flourescent tube behind the gauges .... time to get the screwdriver out!!

About 30 mins later -would have been a lot quicker if I could have got he connectors to come apart easier! - I have the instrument cluster out and completely apart.... and guess what... the flourescent tube looks like it is fried at one end ... so I'm prett sure it was definitely to blame. Checked the rest of the instrument cluster and behind it inside the dash - no signs of any bad connections/smoke/marks etc.... so far so good.

So, jump on the phone with my local dealer to see if I can get a light tube PDQ - $770+$50 freight + $30 to 'conficure' a new instrument cluster !!!!!!!!!!!!!! BECAUSE A DAMN BULB BURNT OUT!!!!!! arrgghhhhh!!

So - I figured maybe our friends at InfinitpartsUSA.com could help out .... they were VERY helpful as always, but still can't get the bulb seperate...damn ..... their price was $545 .... BUT they can't order them from Nissan anymore !!!

Anybody else come across this issue ? Or have any solutions ? Looking for a used instrument cluster as we speak

Thanks to all for your help/input - and hopefully this will help the next person who gets smoke coming from their dash!

[ScottJackson]

I do believe if I were you I'd make my own setup using some wire, solder, and cheap 12V small automotive bulbs to replace that other bulb.

[britinmn]

When I heard the frst price for the cluster I seriously thought about that!!

I managed to find a complete used cluster locally with a 'lifetime guarantee' for $299. The wife is going to pick it up this afternoon and I'll swap out the light tube this evening.....

fingers crossed no more smoke from the dash !! I'll post to let everyone know if this fixes the problem....

[maxnix]

Surely this must be a standard flourescent bulb available from a third party?

Did you find the ballast? Read it's output and Google the bulb.

[Jesda]

Wow, I cant believe Nissan abandoned a part for such a recent car.

Actually, the way the company is managed these days by those retards in France, I totally believe it.

[Q45man1]

If you could measure the actual CCFT (cold cathode fluorescent tube) dimensions (dia x length). I would be able to assist you in looking for the replacement lamp.It won't be the exact replacement but should be close. Ours has different color phosphor (x, y coordinates) but way cheaper.

[marksport]

Wow, I cant believe Nissan abandoned a part for such a recent car.

Actually, the way the company is managed these days by those retards in France, I totally believe it.

I was looking for the surround that goes around the cluster on the 2002 Q45 and the nissan parts guy told me that it is no longer available, discountinued

[qship96]

wow,I feel sorry for long term owners of the 2002+ q if they are already discontinuing replacement parts for a model line that just ended in 2006.Guess it is just another dagger in the q resale market.

[Skibane]

I do believe if I were you I'd make my own setup using some wire, solder, and cheap 12V small automotive bulbs to replace that other bulb.

Yep, although white LEDs would probably get you closer to the original color of the florescent lamp...

Finding a similar replacement florescent lamp also sounds possible. They're really not that rare or expensive - For example, Mouser Electronics carries a butt-load of 'em, none of which cost more than 13 bucks.

[britinmn]

Thanks to all for the input and suggestions - here's the final update:

I went with the used replacement cluster - the wife picked it up this afternoon, and all was as advertised.. seemed to be in good condition with a cracked lens.

Took it apart and pulled the light tube - looks to be in good shape - swapped it into my old cluster and re-installed in car... still no light ummmh....

Pulled my original cluster apart again and swapped the circuit boards with the replacement - re-installed in the car and ... light!!! I can see that I drive like a grandma again

So - looks like I blew something on the board as well as the light tube .... so going with the replacement cluster ended up being a good idea, although now the car says 8,000 miles less than it did this afternoon (I'll have to talk to the dealer to see if they can use the Consult to fix)

When I get a chance I'll try troubleshooting the circuit board to see if I can find what has gone bad .. just in case something else in the cluster goes bad....

[Q451990]

Thanks for the update! It might be worth posting any markings on the tube just to see if it's available in the aftermarket...

Heath