Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting instrument panel problem

The lights used to illuminate my gauges dont work. I checked my fuses and the fuse for the gauge panel illumination was blown. I replaced the fuse but my gauges still dont light up. My dimmer switch has fallen out of its position and is sitting about half an inch inside the dash. I tried to get to it but I have no idea how I can get behind there. Ive checked my haines manual and my own experimentation but I still cannot get at the dimmer switch. Can anyone offer me some help???

Maybe your dimmer is somehow disconnected and therefore not allowing your lights to iluminate.

To get at the dimmer switch you need to remove the part of the dash that wraps the instrument cluster. There are several screws anchoring it. First remove the clock and all the other clip on trim to reveal 3 screws. These pieces just pop off, use a small screwdriver to do this. There are also 2 screws located on the underside of the dash trim where the guages are. These are tricky to get so be patient. Once all screws are removed the dash trim can be pulled out anr you can access in behind where the dimmer switch is. This is a pretty simple job that should take no more than 30 minutes maybe 45 and the complete instructoins are in the Haynes manual section 12-14 and 12-15. You may also have some burnt out bulbs. I am currently replacing 3 of mine. Good Luck!

ok I tried to fix this but it has become a serious problem. Every time I put a new fuse in the position for the gauge illumination and I turn the lights on the fuse gets blown. I cant get at the light dimmer switch because of an obstruction that cannot be moved. What could this mean???

I think you can get access to the dimmer control if you remove the panel that goes underneath the steering column as well. It's just a few screws, really easy. I've had mine off, and had my headlight switch out before, so that's why I think you could get at it that way. It has to be something shorting out to ground, if your blowing fuses. Don't overlook the possibility of the aftermarket stereo (if so equipped) dashlight faceplate illumination circuit, which runs off the same dashlight circuit, may be the culprit for blowing fuses if the splice job was not correctly sealed during deck install and is grounding out on something

The aftermarket deck has been installed for over two years now, I dont think it would all of a sudden start blowing fuses?

Sometimes wires can vibrate and rub against things on the car, and in turn cut through the insulation of supply wires if not correctly tied down (which usually only happen across a period of time). Also shorts can happen internally inside the deck electronics as well. I didn't say that this was definitely your problem, I just said "don't overlook the possibility". I been working on cars for a LONG time, and I've seen just about every freak possibility happen before, including stereo head units internally shorting out (but accross the power lead) and blowing fuses, from having a blown transistor