Instrument panel backlight replacement part/bulb?

[nyclad]

Hi guys,

The backlight on the 2002 I35's instrument display went out. I managed to take the instrument cluster out and took it apart and found a burnt out (florescent?) lighting tube. Does anybody know where/how to get a replacement? Part numbers?

Here are the photos.

There's a thin tube at the bottom of the inside of the cluster.


It simply fits into a recessed slot at the bottom. I'm holding it up for reference.


There's a number on the backside, but it might just be a manufacture date. You can see two little holes near each end, they are not screw holes, but are burnt/melted through, presumably when the bulb/tube burnt out.


A close up of one of the sides. You can see where it burned through the plastic backing.


A close up of the other side with the connector, also it burned through the plastic backing here too.

[nyclad]

Surely somebody must have run across the same problem...

[maxhopper]

I think this is the one you need. http://www.ccflwarehouse.com/30x27fuspcc.html

[nyclad]

I think this is the one you need. http://www.ccflwarehouse.com/30x27fuspcc.html

Thanks! That's interesting, I was initially thinking the tube and the plastic housing was all one unit. I put the instrument panel back in the dash, now I have to get the backlight out to measure it. What I should have done is taken the backlighting out, then put the panel back in.

[RobRussell4]

I have a 2002 Infiniti I35 CCFl backlight out. Thanks for detailed info on your post it was very helpful.

Was this the right CCFL 3.0 x 275 from CCFL wharehouse?

[sed]

Hi guys,
Same car, same problem. The link to the CCFL above was used on an i30, the housing on the i35 *looks* different. Can anyone confirm the bulb used on an i35?

[BottomTimeX2]

On my 2002 I35 the same bulb failed, I replaced it with a LED Strip from the local electronics surplus store. Works Great!

[nelsontrek]

So I have an 02 I35 with the same problem. I pulled the light assembly out and called the dealer. They want over $300 for just that light. Did anyone find a replacement for this? I'd like to know about the LED replacement option. How'd does it get soldered in, LED size etc... Any info would be great. I'll try an post pics of a solution once I get one.

[rodiva]

Just finished replacing ccfl lamp for my 2002 I35 and like to share this online. I had searched exhaustively but limited information available for this repair. Dealer was clueless and wanted to sell entire instrument cluster for a lot of money.

1. Contrary to I30, the correct ccfl length for I35 is longer. The closest match to the original lamp is this one http://www.ccflwarehouse.com/30x32fuspcc.html. I initially ordered wrong one (3.0 x 275) from ccfl warehouse. I also ordered rubber caps ($1.50 for 2).

2. Be careful not to scratch cluster plastic surface when pulling out of car, put a clothe on steering wheel cover for protection. And disconnect battery under the hood.

3. Important, do not drive the car w/o cluster because there will be little power from engine and transmission will hesitate. And check engine light will come on once you reconnect the cluster (mileage reading won't match with computer). There's a way to reset check engine light, I found it online. Yes, I made this mistake trying to grab a quick bite. I had a GPS so I knew what fast I was driving.

4. You need a soldering gun, thin computer wire approx length of ccfl lamp housing.

5. Original lamp has another very thin wire stuck together inside a straw-like wrapper. This lamp along with thin wire pass thru two other plastic holders as other post had mentioned. Do not cut open these two holders.

I had to break original lamp from the side, cut the thin wire and ripped apart the straw like wrapper that held them - slowly twisted the lamp out of two plastic holders.

6. Use computer wire to replace the thin wire that was stuck with original ccfl lamp. I was able to push the new wire next to those two plastic lamp holders (running outside), *note original lamp and wire run thru inside of these two holders.* Then solder new wire to the orange strip.

7. Put new ccfl lamp thru the two plastic holders, careful not to bend or break it. put new rubber end caps on lamp, twist and angle wire (need to cut it for proper fit) - then solder both wires out of lamp to orange strip. make sure the harness clip is long enough to reconnect green board after soldered with new lamp.

New light looks much better than original green color, is bright white but shows great contrast against black background display.

Its not difficult at all. Just be gentle and practice a bit with soldering gun.

[mackster52]

On my 2002 I35 the same bulb failed, I replaced it with a LED Strip from the local electronics surplus store. Works Great!

where did you find the led strip at to be exact? do you have any links or info on how to install it

[mackster52]

i was asking bottomtimeX2 where did he buy that led strip to go in his infiniti dash panel to be exact & does he have any weblinks or info on installing it, thanks

[nelsontrek]

rodiva has a great write up. I've meant to get in here and do one and he beat me to it. The bulb I got for my I35 was the "3.0 x 325mm Full Spectrum CC30325." That is from CCFL Warehouse. If you drive more than 25 miles with your instrument cluster not attached, say laying in the passenger floorboard, your car will go into "limp mode" and that's not fun. So I'd suggest to be ready to do the job all at one time.
Now for the AC panel lights....

[Talleyrand]

I know this is an older thread, but I'm having issues with my cluster now. I dont think its a bulb issue, because all of the lights went out at once after flickering. I just bought this car, but it began flickering about two weeks ago, and it finally went it out today. Any thoughts?

[centralcoaster33]

Hi Talleyrand and welcome to NICO Club!

This thread is for the back light of the display, not all the lights of the individual gauges or meters. If all your lights went out, then you might need to check your ground wires. Especially if it flickered for a while. Another thought is to check all of your fuses. If a fuse blew, you can replace it but you should look around for a shorted wire somewhere because it would blow the fuse again in the future. Sounds like you might need to pull of the display and have a look at the backside. You'll want to have a volt meter handy for testing current and continuity. You might even want to use the factory service manual. Good luck!