dave120

Well recently my dash lights seem to have half stopped working. I can't really see the gas guage, temp, or most of the spedometer now when it's dark outside. Is there only two bulbs in there, one for each side? Or did I lose more than 1 at once?

Is there anything else I should do while I have it out besides get new bulbs? I assume I can get those at a regular auto parts store right? The reflectors and everything have already been replaced and my dash lights (when they were working fully) were plenty bright.

Strike-Force

Did you check the wheel to adjust their brightness?

dave120

The wheel adjusts the brightness of the lights that are still working, but the left side of the cluster is completely dark

streckfu's

There are 3 bulbs in all. It seems like you lost one or two.

Since you've already cleaned up the light tunnels, there's not much else you need to do while in there.

Chase72

Dave: A good reference for instrument panel lighting repair is Clark's Garage...
http://www.clarks-garage.com/

Look under "Garage Shop Manual" then "Instrumentation Panel Lighting"
He goes over the bulbs, reflecters, etc. Very thorough.

Hope this helps,
Chase

Scuba Steve

The bulbs are pretty cheap for my early dash car, guess they're probably the same for yours. A local import house had some instrument cluster lights. BMW uses the same bulb, but I don't remember what the part number is.

Z-man

If it's not the bulbs, you may have a short in the circuit board attached to the back of your instrument cluster.

I've had my dash apart three times already, and after reinstalling, the dash lights usually work for about a month before I am again in darkness. (So I resort to using a 'bling bling' neon tube that I place infront of the guages). I don't drive my 944 often at night, so it's not a big issue for me.

BTW: If you take your dash apart, there's a small plastic tab thingy on the lower right hand side of the instrument cluster unit. If you break that piece off, it is far easier to remove and reinstall the cluster. (Don't ask how I know this! )

I'd replace the bulbs first (they twist to release, BTW) and then take it from there.
Good luck!
-Zoltan.

PS: There is one good thing about NOT having dash lights: No officer, I really have NOT IDEA how fast I was going!

dave120

Thanks guys
I guess I'll pull it out when I get some spare time and replace the bulbs and see if it's fixed...if not I get to put some of my Electrical Engineering classes that I'm taking to use and search for a bigger problem, which I really hope it's not!