van883

I have a 1989 S4 and the instrument lights are ON when the lights are OFF, but when the lights are on the instrument lights are OFF!! So no instruments when driving in the dark! I guess the switch has got some wires crossed. I bought this car recently and and have not messed with it at all. To reiterate, the dash lights work fine when the light switch is off. As soon as I put the headlights on, the dash lights go off! Is a connection reversed somewhere?
Any advice please?
Van

Nottingham UK

voskian

Just had same thing happen to my 91 GT. headlights on....dash lights off. I just played around with the dimmer switch yesterday , moving dim..hi...dim...hi and after about 6-7 times the dash lights came on with the head lights. dimmer either had some corrosion on it or is on the way out?

Not sure if this is your problem, but dimmers can cause this kind of issue and it's an easy first check.

Bob

michaelathome

I thought that I noticed the same thing when I was recently working on my 89.

There is a dash sensor that turns on the dash lighting, to full brightness" when the car is in a garage or whatnot. In daylight it turns the lights off. My guess is that the dimmer switch is a bit corroded and needs some movement to knock off the corrosion.

Good luck as now I am watching to see if you resolve the situation.

Michael

van883

It was the dimmer switch. I got it replaced. All good now.

Van