Driving home tonight I noticed the light for the odometer is out. The spedometer light works, and the digital milage shows, just the light for the milage is out. Other than being a little annoying at night, it's not a big deal, just wondering if there is any way to fix it.

 

Yes, there is a bulb for this. I replaced mine a week or two ago. You should be able to search recent posts for the part number.

 

I was just looking in the shop manual and it said that "A photocell controls the illumination of the LCD, maintaining contrast of the display during ambient light changes." Right now my dash is lit up like a christmas tree because of a bad ABS sensor, I'm wondering if the lit up warning lights are making the photocell think that it's daylight out thus keeping the odometer light from coming on. At least thats what I'm hoping, ha ha. I guess I'll see what happens after I replace the ABS sensor and the warning lights go out.

 

I believe the photocell is located on the front side of the rearview mirror.

 

Ha ha, oh well. Guess I'll be tearing apart the dash at some point.

 

Or on the dash in the center below the mirror on a 2000 d2

 

Pretty much the most simple job ever, two screws, above the steering column.

 

I know its primary function is an input for the automatic climate control, not entirely sure if the odometer uses it as well. I always assumed (maybe incorrectly) that the photoelectric sensor on the mirror was for controlling light intensity.

(From RAVE pg 1204)
Sunlight sensor
The sunlight sensor consists of two diodes that provide the ATC ECU with inputs of light intensity, one as sensed
coming from the left of the vehicle and one as sensed coming from the right. The inputs are used as a measure of the
solar heating effect on vehicle occupants. The sensor is installed in the centre of the fascia upper surface.

 

mine blew out too... check my thread history, it wasnt too long ago i asked about it, someone posted a part number and an explination on how to change it.

 

Part # is 168g

Available at autozone