gauge cluster lighting problem

[s13drifterbabe]

My gauge cluster (not digital) on my S13 fastback hasn't been lighting up when I turn on the headlights. I posted about this a while back and a few people suggested that a burnt out bulb in the dimmer switch could cause the dash lights to not work.

Well yesterday I installed a new dimmer switch and now I'm having a weird problem. Maybe I didn't notice this before. The gauge cluster lights still don't turn on with the headlights but now it seems if I open my door, the gauge cluster lights will blink with the door chime noise. This only lasts a few seconds. So I turn the ignition key off and then back to ON with the door open and it happens again, the dash lights will blink at the same time as the door chime noise. After about 5 seconds the dash lights won't turn on anymore. Has anyone heard of this problem before?

[97ka-t]

Check all interior fuses. I had a similar prob and it was the taillight fuse..

[s13drifterbabe]

If a fuse was bad then the lights wouldn't work. The tail lights work, headlights work, roof dome light works. Everything works except the dash lights. Turn signals will blink on the cluster and warning lights work but the back lights for the gauges don't.

[97ka-t]

Ah, did you check the bulbs themselves? Likely they got fried.

[outsides]

had same problem with my backlights. removed the cluster and found i had a bad ground for the backlights. made my own ground by splicing into ground line (pretty sure brown in color, not positive) and fixing to dash support. helps if you have an ohm meter/dvom.

[s13drifterbabe]

Ah, did you check the bulbs themselves? Likely they got fried.

That still wouldn't make sense because the gauge backlights will blink with the door chime noise when the key is in the ON position and headlights are turned on.

outsides, I may have to try that. It could be a bad ground like you said.

[s13drifterbabe]

PROBLEM SOLVED!!!

I read on "another" 240sx Forum that the dash lights not working is a common problem for S13's with aftermarket head units installed. The problem is the illumination wire which is red w/orange has to be grounded.

So I took out my aftermarket head unit, looked at the wiring and noticed the red/orange illumination wire was just hanging there and connected to nothing. I grounded the wire, turned on my headlights, and the dash lights worked!!! YAY!!!

[97ka-t]

Sorry we couldn't help over here on NICO, but congrats on getting them fixed!

[s13drifterbabe]

Sorry we couldn't help over here on NICO, but congrats on getting them fixed!

No offense to NICO, I like being on NICO it has a great community. I tried the best I could to search this site for my problem and read through many threads and couldn't find an answer. The next option was to search another 240sx forum and luckily I was able to find a solution. I am so happy my dash lights work, driving at night was bad because I couldn't see the RPM or Speedo or anything. I am so relieved right now.

[97ka-t]

Yeah, it seems like the 240SX threads are geared more for S14's, or not very specific problems, a lot of the questions are repeated... A lot of threads are pointless and need to be deleted...