head-scratcher: lighting or electrical problem?

[Stev0n]

the dash gauge lights one of my 240s dont work. speedo, tach, gas, temp.

i've checked/replaced all the bulbs, even switched the clusters off the car that does work and nothing. i've replaced the illumination switch too and nothing.

Now, the clock light, and all the little red lights (battery, door ajar, seatbelts, whatever they all are), turn signal, & high beam indicators all work. Just the gauges don't light up.

There are no blown fuses, fusible links, or relays. What can i check or what could it be?

[S13CoupeLover]

My old 240 coupe had the same problem. My dad's mechanic said it was a IEM (Intermittent Electrical Malfunction), means that there's a short somewhere. my dash and HUD used to come on when ever it wanted to, same with the cd player. but good luck with finding the problem

[89twoforty]

I'd have to agree. I'd start tracing wires.

Good luck, hope you find it.

[modulation]

A few things to check/think about.

#1. You have a S13 right?There is this white box called a TCM (timing control module) that might have broke. It has a couple of really small traces in it that tend to burn out before the fuse for the circuit can blow. The TCM controls alot of stuff in the car including what youa re talking about.

#2. Do you currently have a radio connected/hooked up? Some times for some reason stuff will ground threw the radio and if you don't have it hooked up the other stuff can't ground.

#3. Did you switch from a digital cluster to a analog cluster or vise-versa? One grounds different then the other so I would try running a wire from the back of the instrument cluster where the gnd for the lights plugs in straight to the chassis.

#4. When I got my s13 used the dude hooked power up for the stereo straight to the fuse, when I removed it I unknowingly loosened up the back of the fuse box connection to one of the circuits in my car (in my case it went to radio, automatic seatbelts and clock.) I checked every fuse and relay similar to you and I just found the lose connection by accident one day.If I were you I'd try to wiggle some wires around by the back of the fuse box to see if all the sudden the lights come on.

Do you have a FSM? How about a volt-ohm-meter?

[Stev0n]

A few things to check/think about.

#1. You have a S13 right?There is this white box called a TCM (timing control module) that might have broke. It has a couple of really small traces in it that tend to burn out before the fuse for the circuit can blow. The TCM controls alot of stuff in the car including what youa re talking about.

#2. Do you currently have a radio connected/hooked up? Some times for some reason stuff will ground threw the radio and if you don't have it hooked up the other stuff can't ground.

#3. Did you switch from a digital cluster to a analog cluster or vise-versa? One grounds different then the other so I would try running a wire from the back of the instrument cluster where the gnd for the lights plugs in straight to the chassis.

#4. When I got my s13 used the dude hooked power up for the stereo straight to the fuse, when I removed it I unknowingly loosened up the back of the fuse box connection to one of the circuits in my car (in my case it went to radio, automatic seatbelts and clock.) I checked every fuse and relay similar to you and I just found the lose connection by accident one day.If I were you I'd try to wiggle some wires around by the back of the fuse box to see if all the sudden the lights come on.

Do you have a FSM? How about a volt-ohm-meter?

1. yes, s13 hatch. i'll have to try tcm.

2. no radio (the lights have never worked since i have owned it). no radio when i bought it, i had several different ones in, and now back to none. one thing, tho, when i hooked the illumination on the radios up to the lights it worked. dont knownif that has any connection to the guages tho.

3. its the original cluster for the car, when i switched w/ my friend to see if his worked out was out of the same year car 1990 s13 hatch.