dashlights on and off

[pdivens82]

Just wondering if someone could give me a hand. I have a 2001 Pathfinder with about 250K on it and my dashlights have been giving me problems. All the other lights are working in and on the vehicle but the dashlights. The service engine light and the other dummy lights are working but the speedo,rpm, fuel gauge, and temp gauge have no lights. Well I shouldn't say dont have any because they intermitently pop on and off. One side will work then the other will and then sometimes they both work but for the most part neither work. The dimmer works fine when they are illuminated as well. Checked fusesd no problem there because they wouldn't pop on and off it was blown. I ahve searched and searched and have found nothing useful other thatn maybe it is the headlightswitch, I have also had the cluster out and didnt seem to find any problems.
Thanks!

[Towncivilian]

Welcome to NICO.

Try loosening and retightening these brass screws on the backside of the instrument cluster:

[pdivens82]

No such luck there arent any brass screws, there aren't screws at all. Also there are only about half the bulbs as the picture shown tried wiggling wires and nothing still. I dont understand why everything else is working. Thanks for the help though!

[Towncivilian]

What is the manufacturing date of your Pathfinder? You can find this on the sticker in driver's side door jamb.

Can you take a picture of the back side of your instrument cluster?

[pdivens82]

The manufacturing date says 7/01. Thanks again for any help you can provide!

[pdivens82]

Have pictures but not sure how to add them.

[Towncivilian]

OK, you have a 2001.5 Pathfinder. Since it's so close to the 2002 model year's starting manufacturing date, that may explain the cluster differences.

You can upload pictures to http://www.imgur.com, it will give you options for posting here afterwards.

[pdivens82]

[pdivens82]

Here is that picture. Thanks!

[Towncivilian]

Hm, looks like yours is the 2002 version with LEDs in all of the warning / indicator lamp spots, and there are no ground screws to tighten at least externally without removing that black shroud. Is there any way to remove it?

The bulb that is missing (middle right of the photo) is only for all mode 4 wheel drive, so it is reasonable for yours to be missing.

Have you examined the bulbs in the black twist bases to see if they're excessively burnt, melted, or have broken filaments?

Try placing the cluster into diagnosis mode: follow page EL-124 of the factory service manual.

[pdivens82]

Here is a picture of the cluster without the backing shroud not screws to be seen. Also tried running the cluster diagnostic test and the gauges worked perfectly just no lights. The right side was working all day now it was off when I just tried it.

Also attatched picture of a bulb its a little black but I dont see any signs of melting and the filamnets dont seem to be broken. Would an old bulb casue the lights to work sometimes but not others? Im going to buy some tomorrow and if that doesnt work Im out of ideas. If you llok at the picture it ssems to be missing a small bulb as well. on the top right.

[Towncivilian]

A burnt looking bulb should be fine, some of mine looked like that when I replaced them with LEDs and the bulbs worked fine still.

Your cluster PCB looks OK, there don't appear to be any burn or scorch marks. To be honest, the issue seems like a bad solder joint somewhere. This is common with the digital clock, though this is the first instance I've read of cluster lights flashing on and off.

I'm not sure replacing the bulbs will achieve anything, they aren't in series and should work fine if one or more are dead. Use #74 bulbs if you do decide to replace them.

The missing bulb at the top right (I assume you're looking at your first photo) is for the all-mode 4WD system and should not be present if you don't have that.

You may want to look into sourcing a used cluster from the junkyard. The mileage is stored on the cluster, not the vehicle, so your total odometer mileage will be different. I have a spare 2001 cluster but as you can tell from my photo, it's different and probably electrically incompatible.

[pdivens82]

I think that is exactly what it is. Im going to try new bulbs, the bulbs seem to be loose fitting against the contacts which I think is casuing the problem becasue when I hold them tight the lights seem to work. Thanks for all your help I'll let you know how I make out.

[pdivens82]

Do you happen to know what the part # for the socket that the bulb goes into that is the part I need? They want $21 a piece for them at the dealer. Was trying to find online myself and can't.

[Towncivilian]

No. Buy #74 bulbs from a local auto parts store and replace them, you do not need new twist bases. The bulbs pull out with some light force using pliers, be careful not to shatter the bulb.

[pdivens82]

Got it thanks!