OB Pod switch lighting? Update-Msyteriously now working
 

Only lighting on my pod switches working is the light switch illumination. I have tested the other bulbs in that switch and bulbs are good.

When should these bulbs illuminate? Why would all others fail to illuminate? how are they connected?

Also have one bulb that barely sticks above the surface of the socket. How the hell do get those out?

get some plastic tubing of the right size - just smaller ID than a bulb OD (ACE hardware - take a bulb) - expand the end slightly (heat in boiling water and expand the end with needle nose pliers). Slip over the bulb end - let it cool/contract back - pull out.

Alan

See https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...eferrerid=6055 Post #29.

If your other bulbs don't light its probably due to bulb failure or your variable dash illumination doesn't work - fix that first.

Alan

Pod switches other than the light switches don't illuminate until the lights are on.

Well - several have dual level illumination - should illuminate dimmly with variable illumination (marker lights on), and illuminate more brightly when active e.g. fog light, hazard (flash), rear defogger. In each case its the same bulb/filament so if it works in that mode its good.

Only the light switch is on always with ignition - & due to this its on the most time and so is the most common to burn out...

Alan

Are Obs different?

I just use standard clear aquarium tubing - works as-is.

I had previously removed the lighting reostadt and put in a jumper to eliminate the issue.

I have checked all the bulbs but the one and thay all illuminate in the light switch.

Tonight I got the pod back in and with lights on I still only have the light switch bulb illuminated.

However when I cycle the odo reset the bulb illuminates temporaryily during depression. I think that switch is bad. Would that cause the others to not illuminate?

so you have voltage on the supply side of the rheostat right? (with jumper removed) I think it feeds from fuse #11.

IIRC the other side of the rheostat branches into 2 wires starting the blue/black 'dimmer circuit'. One goes to the cluster and the other daisy chains around the pod switches and then the center console.

you are correct. I have gauge illumination and a dim light switch bulb. With lights turned on all other switches are not illuminated. When I depress the odo reset the reset does work on the trip odometer and the light illuminates during the depression but does not stay on. Looks like all these switches are tied into the same BL/BK wire. Do I have a faulty switch causing a ground? Can the odd push swiotch be removed from the housing to isnpect?

you may be in for some fun then. Hopefully you can find the open circuit by removing all the pod switches and circuits and testing blu/blk with a vampire tap.

In my case, i had a short to ground which fried my rheostat. I actually thought my pod was on fire from all the smoke. I never did find the short despite full pod and console removal so I ended up making a completely new dimmer circuit. So I guess that's the worst case scenario for you as well. Good luck.

Tonight I discovered that when I turn on lights I get no other switch lights. When I turn on the fog lights the switch light illuminates. Same thing with defroster and rear wiper.

Is this normal?

when you say 'no other switch lights' do you mean they don't illuminate when turned on as well as dimmed when off?

Either way, sounds like bad grounds. Have you cleaned your grounding points recently? especially the ones over the CE panel.

Only switch that lights when ignition is on and light switch off is the light switch but that light is dim.

When I turn on the light switch to parking or headlights none off the other switch lights illuminate. The other switch lights only come on when the individual switch is turned on/ depressed.

I have checked the grounds recently. I need to know how they should work so I can troubleshoot.

Okay, so my first statement holds true still then on tracing out the dimmer circuit. If each switch lights up bright when activated - defog, hazard, fog, etc. then your grounds should be fine. the dimmer circuit positive is suspect for pod. Does central console light up dim with parking/headlights active? ie. a/c button, clock, lighter, climate head?.They should all light up dim when the light switch is parking or headlights on. (disclaimer- i have an S4 so there may be some variance)

also, keep in mind there are diodes embedded in each switch. this allows this use of the same bulb to be used for action lighting as well as dimmed circuit. the diode blocks current from backflowing an 'on' current operation to the other switch bulbs.

assume you have the wiring diagrams in the WSM