Dash Lights Still Dont Work!!!!!!1

Post by **hondahunter180** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:52 pm

hello, i just put in a new radio in my car ('90 s13) and i forgot to disconnect the battery, now my dash lights dont work, my clock light still works but when i turn my lights on the clock light turs off and everything is dark, i took out the cluster to see if the lights were blown and they are still good, i cant find a fuse for the dashlights, my friend said it was the brake light fuse, but its not, i pulled out my radio and re-did ther wiring and they still dont work, my drivers-side front parking light dosnt work, but the turn signal does, the drivers side side markers dont work either but it was like this before the dash lights, if anyone can help me it would be great, thanks

Post by **NISTECH** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:52 pm

your dimmer switch is probably fried. happens alot when adding aftermarket radios to older nissans.

Post by **hondahunter180** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:52 pm

thanks, ill try that

Post by **Nismo_yo** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:52 pm

I had a similiar problem, when my stereo was in i had no dash lights and no tailights(brakelights worked) and all i did was disconnect my stereo and everything worked, also my dimmer switch dont work either so i dont know if that may have anything to do with your problem since it didnt do anything in my situation. Hope this helps a little.

Post by **Kiwi_S13** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:52 pm

If you turn your over head lights on does your clock shut off? Are the dash lights on when the head lights are off? It's 99% likely to be your Timing Control Module.. Its a small white box about the 2"x2"x1" with only one small harness running into it.. It is located at the drivers side kick panel. Remove the fuse cover and you can see it down and to the left.. Removal of the kick panel is need to access it though. Find a friend with a 240 and borrow theirs to test yours. Go to a junk yard and pull one should only cost ~$10.. a dealer will rape you for like $200+. Check the new one for any signs of burnt connections and if it looks good just swap it with the old one. Takes 10 mintues.

Let me know if this helps.

KyLe

Post by **skazzi** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:52 pm

Hey Kiwi, Do you know of any way to test the TCM? Can you run a test light on the wires running into it?Please share

Post by **Kiwi_S13** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:52 pm

I think the easiest way to test the TCM is visually or borrow a friends. Burns on the circut board can be seen fairly easily. I am honestly not sure about testing the wires coming out or any other method of testing it. Just pull it out and open the box and give it a look. NisTech might have a more insightful solution. Sorry if this doesn't help..

KyLe

Post by **NoezUP** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:52 pm

I had the same problem to the T. I checked all the fuses and checked the dimmer switch and I didn't see any burns on the TCU but I went to the junk yard and got another TCU and everything worked fine. I guarantee thats what it is.

Post by **skazzi** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:52 pm

Hey! Hey! I have a sizzle! :ylsuper Wooo-EEE... Oh, I pray :icesangel this solves my problem, also pray that I can find another at the wrecker.

Why is it that Nissan have no idea what this box is? I've asked once before and they didn't have a clue.

Does this mean that the next will fry too if the stereo is not connected properly? Seems they go hand in hand.

Thanks Kiwi

Post by **Kiwi_S13** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:52 pm

You need to bypass the amps that are built into the factory stereo system. I don't remember exactly how to do it but if you do a search here or on google the info is readily avaliable. That's most likely your problem. Also check your grounds, some head units are tricky. As long as you get past the amps you shouldn't have a problem. If i can find a good link I'll post it. Glad you had 'sizzle' sounds like you're exceedingly close to being able to drive in the dark again! Let us know how everything works out. Goodluck.

KyLe

Post by **Kiwi_S13** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:52 pm

This was the only link i could find with a VERY brief search. Hope it is somewhat useful:

http://www.bagotronix.com/nissan_240sx_stereo.pdf

Post by **skazzi** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:52 pm

Thanks Kiwi. My car is an 89, I'm not sure I've seen that it's amp has to be bypassed but I'll have a boo for something.

Post by **ricebike** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:52 pm

i thought this was familiar...

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....47816

Post by **NoezUP** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:52 pm

I also went to nissan and they had no clue. they wanted to charge me like 80 dollars to diagnose it and then go from there.

Post by **skazzi** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:52 pm

:ylsuper Happy to say, I have light! Found two TCMs at the wreckers, plugged one in this evening and never thought seeing dash lights would be such a wonderful experience. lol.

Thanks so much for all the help guys.

Post by **NoezUP** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:52 pm

At least you know how fast you are going at night now

Post by **ricebike** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:52 pm

skazzi,

can u test the other TCU on your car, then sell it to another member?

Post by **skazzi** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:52 pm

Hey RiceI will do that as soon as I can solve my Alarm problem. Something has burnt the circuit board and fried my alarm so purchased the second as a back up. The second "looks" good but I will test if I sell it, for sure.

Post by **Kiwi_S13** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:52 pm

Congrats!! But am I the only one that calls this thing a TCM (module, just sounds cooler

).

Did you have to rewire your stereo Skazzi??

Post by **ricebike** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:52 pm

eh, TCU <unit>/ TCM <module> go hand-in-hand, like ECU/ECM

cool beans, skazzi... my ghetto lights mod is holding up, i also have an aftermarket alarm problem <just gotta replace a n/c or n/o reset switch; but until then, i don't wanna disconnect my battery> & i'm about to follow thru w/ a better radio in the late spring...

i'm just busy w/ takin care of a 2 year old & gettin ready to catch another newborn in a month <roosevelt hospital in nyc rocks! they let u cut da cord n everything!>

Post by **skazzi** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:52 pm

Hey Kiwi, I call it a TCM, says so on the receipt I've got here! I wonder how much they would cost via Nissan if they could ever figure out what it was we were referring to.

Congrats Rice, that's wonderful and best of luck with the new babe!

Are you asking about the TCM for yourself? If so, I'll remember to find you.

My alarm is off for Brain Surgery today. Apparently the alarm hospital is in Quebec Canada so I expect some more communication problems upon it's return. I'm hoping my problem with it was simply due to my wreck and it sitting for 3 months.

Oh. No, I did not have to rewire my stereo kiwi. Prior to putting in the new TCM I had brought the car back twice for stereo adjustment, not sure if that helped or not. I'd like to by-pass the amp (as I've read it's suggested) so I've been searching for a link about that.

Post by **NISTECH** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:52 pm

TCM=Timer Control ModuleTCU= Transmission Control Unit

Post by **240SX=fun4me!** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:52 pm

Question. My dash Lights have moods. Why?

When the car is cold especially, when I turn the headlights on, the climate control console doesn't exist. As I drive for about 2 miles, they dimly come on, then go back and forth on and off, until finally, they decide to wake up. I have HUD, and i use that dimmer to see if it will do anything, and It doesnt other than make the HUD light brighter.

PLz help. It's annoying not to see what I'm douing when it's 4 degrees outside.

Post by **NISTECH** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:52 pm

bad connection possibly in the climate control head???

Post by **L0sT** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:52 pm

anywhere else i could get this TCM from except from another 240 or a junkyard because here in hawaii, we dont have "junkyards"...just a rubbish dump lol.

i hope this fixes my problem because ive even changed the circuit board thing behind the cluster and still nothing..before i did that, i had that same problem, the clock would work, but when i turned on my headlights, it wouldnt....but now that it has a new circuit board thing, it doesnt work AT ALL! aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Post by **skazzi** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:52 pm

Hey Lost

Did you pull it out and have a look at the circuit board as suggested here? I put that off for a long time and could have solved my problem long ago. It was VERY obvious that it was bad and it's VERY easy to take out and check.

From there, if you find you need one I'm positive you could find one from someone on these forums. I may have one available in a couple weeks or so. Though I think it may be spoken for.

Post by **hondahunter180** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:52 pm

damn i didnt know so many people shared this problem, ill check the tcm today, i live a few miles away from a good junk yard, i am going to try to gank one today, if i find more than one 240 ill try to get one for one of you guys too. for a quick fix i put a glow stick in front of the cluster last night and i could see it was great my dash lights have been out for ever now, i cant stand it anymore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Post by **hondahunter180** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:52 pm

hold on, this is wierd!, the guy in this thread http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....47816 said his lights dont come up anymore, mine still do, but his dash lights went out just like mine, but his brakes are acting funny, the brakes are there, they work and everything, but they feel wierd, thats what my brakes are doing, i am pretty sure it is the power brake booster, i bought a new one which was $150, could the lights and the brakes be connected some how or is it just a coincidinse?

Post by **Project_S13_180** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:52 pm

is the TCU the little white box that your door chime is hooked up to? because i need to replace my TCU so i can have gauge lights!!

Dash Lights Still Dont Work!!!!!!1

Dash Lights Still Dont Work!!!!!!1

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