Dash Lights Died

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scolesy
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Dash Lights Died

Post by scolesy » Thu Jan 10, 2013 1:26 pm

Hi all, I am a new memeber and a new owner of a 1994 1800cc MX5. For some reason my dash lights have just stopped working. We have checked all wires under dash as we removed a redundant alarm and re wired a new head unit in place.

Today we removed the dash and checked by turing the lights on and off so we knew what wires were supplying power when the lights are on and found that there was power right up to the speedo cluster or what ever you wish to call it, but still no dash lights.

Checked all fuses, bulbs etc and still cannot find a fault.

Has anyone had similar issues or know of what else we can check?

I live out of town some way and dont want to get a ticket for speeding when i cant see the speedo.

Any help, hints or advice would be greatly appreciated!

PLSEME
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Dash Lights Died

Post by PLSEME » Thu Jan 10, 2013 3:43 pm

One thing to check .....

on the right hand side of the dash there are some switch blanks ....
On some vehicles there is a dimmer switch ...
The loom for that switch should be under there & pluged into one of the blanks ...or check the connection in there.
I had a similer problam when i had the dash out one day.

Just something to try.
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WideOpenThrottle
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Post by WideOpenThrottle » Thu Jan 10, 2013 3:58 pm

Possibility is the alternator...they do funny things to dash lights too!
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SLYDIT
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Post by SLYDIT » Thu Jan 10, 2013 7:44 pm

if you have light power to the dash unit then it will be the plug connection to the cluster. its very easy to loose a connection on that plastic membrane that the wiring tracks go on. you could try putting some folded paper behind the membrane where the plug plugs in to see if you get a better connection.
Also its possible that you may have cut the earth to the cluster by mistake. check that you have a connection between the cluster earth( i think theres more than one) and chassis earth.
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last_resort14
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Post by last_resort14 » Thu Jan 10, 2013 8:31 pm

If it happened at the same time as your head unit install, it could be the same thing I had a mate do.

The oem head unit has a connection which causes the head unit to dim when the lights are turned on.
My mate connected this wire to one of his head units wires. And long story short the first time he turned his lights on the dash lights stopped working.

Could be similar?

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Post by Snapfrozen » Thu Jan 10, 2013 9:22 pm

Replaced the fuses as a precaution even if you checked them? Could be corrosion on a terminal or similar? Can throw up a wiring diagram for the interior dash lights if you want?

Born_disturbed
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Post by Born_disturbed » Fri Jan 11, 2013 12:25 pm

I have been having this same issue after my engine swap, hoping it is the blanking issue as mentioned before.

Still have all the warning lights just no lights when i turn the headlights on

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