illumination not working

[jaykazmi]

Hi all

I had pulled out the L194 bulbs from my climate control unit on my 1994 Q45. The rest of the illumination got messed up. I have no illumination in the cluster, shifter or climate control any more. I checked all the fuses. They're all OK. I think its the illumination relay?? any help would be greatly apprecated. Also if it is the relay, wher the heck is it.?Another thing, when i turn my headlights on, the high beam get turned on as well w/o high beam on. Thanx a 1e6.

[goody90q45]

I did the same thing changing out the small bulbs in the seat controls on the doors. Did you set the bulb assembly in its socket with a metal screwdriver with the lights on by chance? (I did)

Go back and take another look at the 3rd and 4th fuses in the engine compartment fuse fox. One is the tail lamp fuse and the other is illumination or passenger compartment illumination. Something like that. These fuses are very decieving so you need to do a continuity check on them out of the car to make sure their still good. Don't rely on a visual check. If you don't have a voltmeter replace both these fuses with known good 10 amp fuses.

Let us know the results. Good luck.

Don't start buying parts until you are sure the fuses are good.

[db_autotek]

wow.. that is one of the strangest things ive heard. Do you have a Service Manual? you can get one here

http://www.phatg20.net/modules...id=62

You could try this I just thought of.. I don't know how it would affect the headlamps, but try disconnecting the climate controll completely and see if the other interior lights operate again. And/ or try putting all the same bulbs in again. Or this!! : It could be that one of the bulds you put in is internally shorted, which would probly make it impossible for the rest of the interior lights to work.

Yeah somethings either gotta be shorted or a relay is bad. Relays are pretty hard to break though.. Get a Service manual for the website and find the relays. I think the headlight one is under the hood by the battery, dunno about interior relay

[db_autotek]

Did you set the bulb assembly in its socket with a metal screwdriver with the lights on by chance?

Good point. The screw base bulbs have exposed wires (like in the AC controls), and if u put them in with the lights on, haha, then it would short the circuit. And he's right about the fuses.. u gotta pull them and test or replace, visual checks can be decieving since fuses can blow and look good.