Dashboard Illumination Problem
Thread Starter
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4wd High
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Northern VA / D.C
Dashboard Illumination Problem
This one has me scratching my head...
Last night when I drove my 2004 Disco, I turned on the headlights (which worked great) and my dashboard remained dark. All the warning and indicator lights lit up correctly when I first started up the engine. The odd thing is that the clock and ac control backlighting didn't dim when I turned on my headlights, which I would have expected them to regardless if the dashboard lights were working or not. Everything else electronic/electrical seems to be working fine on the truck - just no dashboard illumination. I checked the fuses and they are all good. Any ideas?
Cheers,
Chris
2004 Discovery S
1996 Range Rover HSE
Last night when I drove my 2004 Disco, I turned on the headlights (which worked great) and my dashboard remained dark. All the warning and indicator lights lit up correctly when I first started up the engine. The odd thing is that the clock and ac control backlighting didn't dim when I turned on my headlights, which I would have expected them to regardless if the dashboard lights were working or not. Everything else electronic/electrical seems to be working fine on the truck - just no dashboard illumination. I checked the fuses and they are all good. Any ideas?
Cheers,
Chris
2004 Discovery S
1996 Range Rover HSE
Thread Starter
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4wd High
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Northern VA / D.C
Not a bad comment, but...
Actually, I did check it. I actually pulled it out to verify it was still connected up right. I've done bone head things like the before, so thanks for pointing it out.
Chris
Chris
Do your tail lights work?
Typically when the dash lights go out that means the tail lights do not work, this is true on all cars.
Its a safety kinda thing, they expect you to investigate if you do not have dash lights.
Typically when the dash lights go out that means the tail lights do not work, this is true on all cars.
Its a safety kinda thing, they expect you to investigate if you do not have dash lights.
Thread Starter
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4wd High
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Northern VA / D.C
Thanks so far. Still no solution, but more data on the problem. I've also noted that when I turn the headlights on, the ac\heater illumination DOES dim, the clock illumination DOESN'T dim, the ODOMETER illumination DOESN'T dim and the gear selector illumination GOES OUT COMPLETELY including the small red LED next to each gear. All the exterior bulbs are good. I did do some recent work putting in a navigation type radio - is there anything in the dash that I could have nicked or bumped that would fit this problem??
Mudding
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 140
Likes: 2
From: With the boss
Been there, fixed that. Here's my story:
Same symptoms
The light switch contact had burned out: disassembled it, cleaned, lubed w/vaseline, reassembled, now ok for last 3 years.
Remove the steering colums shroud and on the left side check the color of the plug at the switch. If it's yellow/orange/brown, there is too much heat at the switch contacts and it burns out.
It really isn't hard to rebuild but do stretch the springs a bit to force a better contact.
The hard part is to remove the switch assembly without removing the steering wheel but it can be done.
SD
Same symptoms
The light switch contact had burned out: disassembled it, cleaned, lubed w/vaseline, reassembled, now ok for last 3 years.
Remove the steering colums shroud and on the left side check the color of the plug at the switch. If it's yellow/orange/brown, there is too much heat at the switch contacts and it burns out.
It really isn't hard to rebuild but do stretch the springs a bit to force a better contact.
The hard part is to remove the switch assembly without removing the steering wheel but it can be done.
SD