Instrament Panel and Climate Control Lights are NOT WORKING!! HELP!

[lovesSkylines]

Hey Everyone,

I just bought another 1989 240sx Coupe SE.

I'm having a problem getting my gauge and climate control to light up at night.....i have searched through the forums, looked up diagrams, checked all fuses, checked the Main battery connection, checked to see if any wires were tangled,cut or otherwise not functional and everything seems to look good?!?

any suggestions??

and yes i have checked the bulbs to see if they were burnt out.... and they all check out...

although there are are two separate plugs that i found under the drivers side kick panel, they are covered by a clear rubber cover (now sorta yellowing) are these diagnostic plugs or something that is supposed to be plugged in?

[MaximA32]

i would check your rheostat(aka dimmer switch). Make sure it's not turned all theway down.

[lovesSkylines]

checked that already.....only other conclusion with that switch is that it is broken....

ok so i have tested ALL the basic circuitry on the cluster board.... i have confirmed that there is power to the light bulbs...but they are not lighting up......and YES the bulbs work...

input??

[MaximA32]

Have you tested the switch?

[lovesSkylines]

no i have not..... how can you test it other than to use a replacement?

[mister2nr]

When my gauge cluster, climate control, and radio wouldnt light up I went down the same path if you have a good switch I would say its the time control unit. Its located under the kick panel by your left foot. I opened mine up and the circuit was burnt up.

[lovesSkylines]

any pics?thanks

[mister2nr]

no cuz I sold the car about 6 months ago to a friend. But here is a pic from another page on where the location is.

zer...4.jpg

[lovesSkylines]

thanks do you know of any way to test this? or possibly where to find one? i have extra parts from almost any other make other than nissan ....so imma kinda screwed at the moment on being able to use old parts to test stuff

thanks again

[mister2nr]

Umm Im not a 100% sure. I used the ESM at work to test the switch and pretty much followed the wiring and saw that control unit. I didnt really test it I just opened it up and saw that the circuit board was burnt in a certain place. Its pretty easy to open up but for my new one I just went to a junkyard and bought it for 5 bucks. They didnt know what it was so they just told me to give them 5 bucks. But the ESM didnt really give me a way to test it now that I remember. Because on Nissans ASIST they only go back to 94 and we dont have any hardcopy books so I assumed that it was the same for a 92. If you got the time crack the case open and look at the board.

[2.4Loflove]

don't want to thread jack or anything, but I'm having a similar problem just with my climate control lights. I have installed LEDs in them thinking that the bulbs were blown, but still no lights. I have replaced my time control "white box" with one from my friend's pignose. I have a 93. could his time control box be bad as well?

[mister2nr]

well does he have the same problem with his 240? If he doesn't than there is still a problem with your car. Is it more than just your climate control lights (ex.) you dash lights as well that are inop.? It could be the dimmer switch like previously stated and it is an item to be checked. But don't forget that Nissan has always had electrical issues and the older 240sx is no exemption haha. But since you have a friends car that hopefully is in working condition seems like you have another car to possibly swap it out and try it.

[ricebike]

loves, it may be your tcu/ tcm that has an open circuit w/in the board.... white box behind the kick panel on d/s.... by the fuse panel.

you'll haveta remove the plastic floor panel by the carpet, then remove fuse panel & then the kick panel...

looking for this thing:

zerothread?id=51597

you can pry the box open w/ a flathead... then you can visually see the break in the circuit easily.

i've successfully soldered mines w/ success a couple of years ago.

this dang thing acts like a fuse :P

wondering why i can search this from the archives....

[ricebike]

ok, i'm a bit rusty on this site since i dont come here often that much anymore... i modified my search & found a more direct link

zerothread?id=109396

more info:

zerothread/158162

[2.4Loflove]

loves, it may be your tcu/ tcm that has an open circuit w/in the board.... white box behind the kick panel on d/s.... by the fuse panel.

you'll haveta remove the plastic floor panel by the carpet, then remove fuse panel & then the kick panel...

looking for this thing:

zerothread?id=51597

you can pry the box open w/ a flathead... then you can visually see the break in the circuit easily.

i've successfully soldered mines w/ success a couple of years ago.

this dang thing acts like a fuse :P

wondering why i can search this from the archives....

thanks man, i'm going to have pull that thing open tonight and see if the circuit is fried. I have not checked the dimmer switch yet, that's next on the list. All of my other lights in the interior work though...