electrical question...when I got the car
02-09-2018, 10:15 PM
#1
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electrical question...when I got the car
The rear hatch release, side mirrors, interior lights, clock, back light on the speedo and Odo and the radio didn't work. As the board suggested, fuse 24 was indeed blown. I replaced it and now everything but the radio and back light on the Odo and Speedo works. I am below amateur level when it comes to anything but the very basic electrical issues, where should I go next? I've searched and am not sure I want to dive in and start taking things apart to chase whatever this may be. I'd rather hear the engine than the radio and won't be doing much night driving but would like to resolve these issues at some point.
TIA
TIA
02-10-2018, 01:10 AM
#2
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The odo and speed-o is usually due to the dimmer. Play with the dial for the dimmer and see if you get back-lighting when it's not set to full bright.
Radio: stock head unit? Or after-market? Does it not turn on at all? If it's the stock head unit does it turn on but you get no volume?
Radio: stock head unit? Or after-market? Does it not turn on at all? If it's the stock head unit does it turn on but you get no volume?
02-10-2018, 01:31 AM
#3
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Go back and look again. Find a very, very dark place. Start the car, turn on the lights one click so the main beams don't come on. Roll the dimmer around, while looking carefully at the instruments. If you for sure don't see ANY light in there, keep rolling the dimmer back and forth for a while. the resistor in there gets corroded with gunk, it may start working. If not, those little bulbs in the inst panel do burn out. But doing the inst panel bulbs is not a beginner job. Taking the pod off, and pulling the inst board out takes some skill and patience. If you do see a slight amount of light and it barely changes intensity, there is a reflector which is a light guide on the insp panel. The reflective material comes off after many years, and no longer shines any light on the insts. If the bulbs are weak or some missing, and the reflector is in bad shape, that could look like no illumination.
Get some guidance doing the inst panel refurb. You can put LED lamps in there, or you can put stock ones in or you can put red lamps in, which is what I did. There are a couple write-ups.
As for the radio, heck - unless it's a stock radio, it's a crap shoot. If it's the stock radio, they are old, old so it could be power to it, or simply a dead radio. The radio comes out the front of the console. Be very careful taking off the trim edge bezel around the radio, as those thin arms on the trim bezel are easy to break.
Get some guidance doing the inst panel refurb. You can put LED lamps in there, or you can put stock ones in or you can put red lamps in, which is what I did. There are a couple write-ups.
As for the radio, heck - unless it's a stock radio, it's a crap shoot. If it's the stock radio, they are old, old so it could be power to it, or simply a dead radio. The radio comes out the front of the console. Be very careful taking off the trim edge bezel around the radio, as those thin arms on the trim bezel are easy to break.
02-10-2018, 05:20 PM
#4
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Stock radio and no power at all to the radio, I rolled the dimmer back and forth a bunch of times, the D changes from bright to a bit dimmer but no reaction from the rest. of the back lighting. I'll try again tonight in the dark garage. No back light to the HVAC controls either. The light in the Cig lighter compartment works as do all the warning lights. Weird