2002 Q45 Gauge Lights Flickered Off, some smoke and electrical burning smell

[longlivetitus]

Bummer on my way home for lunch:

I was driving home for lunch, when I noticed smell of burning clutch, thought it was a car ahead of me...when all of a sudden my dash gauge lights began to flicker rapidly on and off, and then blacked out.

A little bit of smoke came from the gauge panel, and I thought this was it, she gonna blow!

Has this happened to anyone? It it just a short circuit and a replacement of a sensor or relay will fix...OR...would this be a major electrical nightmare? Would anyone know where the unit or wire for the gauge panel could be located, behind the dash or steering wheel?

Longlivetitus

[Infinitiguy19]

Have you touched any of the wiring back there?

Was any of the wiring in that area touched by anyone at all? (Infiniti dealer, Car Stereo installers...)

[TellarHK]

A little bit of smoke came from the gauge panel, and I thought this was it, she gonna blow!

You watch too much Star Trek, man!

[Q451990]

Smoke is never good...

I have heard of the flourescent tube back there failing, but that doesn't explain the smoke and burning smell. Sounds like it's time to pull it apart and see what happened.

Heath

[TellarHK]

If there's a flourescent tube that blew, it could be a ballast problem. Those might spark up, since there's a lot of voltage flying through there. I've had those blow out on a few PC monitors, though never with sparks or smoke. They just haven't blown all that spectacularly, though I've heard of some that have.

[seldomseen]

Just take your Q45 to the dealership...they will fix that joint in a pair of seconds.

[longlivetitus]

Never touched any wires behind the wheel or dash, she only has 50K today!However, I do keep the gauge lights on full blast whenever I drive, should of turned off the gauge lights. Yesterday, it was in the 90's, hot stuff!

[Infinitiguy19]

Try this: zerothread?id=258892.

[longlivetitus]

Hey Paul,

That is exactly what happened to me! I will be taking my Q in this Friday, and hopefully they will confirm the problem and, set me up with something in the aftermarket?

Really appreciate the help, I'll get back to all with an update soon.Happy 4th!

Longlivetitus

[longlivetitus]

UPDATE:

Well it's been a while and here is my update regarding my instrument lights flickering out, followed by smoke from the dash!

I found a used '02 Q45 instrument panel online, installed it but nothing--returned it and got a refund. I kept searching and found a used '05 Q45 instrument panel, and from what I found it would fit '02-'05 (based on http://www.infinitipartsusa.com)

Bought it online, installed it and my lights are back on.....but, my 'SLIP', 'ABS' & 'TDC' lights are on.....I don't know if this is because of the updated '05 model versus the '02?

Do you think there is a way to reset the instrument panel?

LongLiveTitus

[loystock]

This is great info. I just hope that I will NEVER EVER need it in my 03Q.