Gauges

[TylerH]

Hi, I got my aftermarket stereo installed (seems to be a common thread from what i've read when I searched) and now my guages don't light up when i turn the lights to the "on" position. The weird thing is that when the lights are off completely (key is still in the ignition and the car is running), the time backlight is on. The moment i turn the lights on, the dash doesn't light up and the backlight for the time turns off. This is driving me nuts, i checked the fuses again and they are all good but i doubt thats the problem since the backlight is still somewhat functioning. Also, the warning lights (oil, battery, etc) still light up fine all the time.

Thanks,
Tyler

[Ghettokracker71]

Hey man,I have the same problem in my S13,the crazy thing is that I switched from ONE aftermarket head unit to another...whatever.I've had a book light ghetto rigged on the top of my steering colume...hah hah. Thing sucks...best thing I've tried,but still sucks! Hey at least my deck looks sweet:rolleyes:

Bump b/c I need to know the answer to this problem as well.

[Sil-Abc]

hahaha i have the same problem. My deck was tripping out one day and i jiggled my deck and then all of a sudden my whole dash went out (bad mistake). Im guessin it could be fried wire in the back of the dash or something pulled/grounding itself out. I would take the dash out and check around the wires and stuff.
As for you lighting probably, get aftermarket guages and install them (overlays). What you can do it relay the power from one of the bulbs and ground it to the chassis and itll light up your dash. My needles dont light up so i use my guages to drive. Seems to work great for now but bugs the shit out of me.

[Ghettokracker71]

I really don't want to tear apart my dash JUST LOOKING for stuff.Apparently it is fixeable,when I bought my car the former owner removed two 10" subs and amp,and left the aftermarket head unit with my gauge cluster that lit up perfectly fine.

[kandyflip445]

You think it might be something to do with the "Dimmer" wire hooked up to the headunit? IDK I have an Alpine and when I installed it I had no problems. GL with it though.

[Ghettokracker71]

You think it might be something to do with the "Dimmer" wire hooked up to the headunit? IDK I have an Alpine and when I installed it I had no problems. GL with it though.
good idea but I don't see how/why that would affect the guage lights...My Pioneer DEH 7300 lights up when my lights are on(little ring around the volume knob and etc.) I wonder if this has anything to do with HVAC controls,too b/c mine have never lit up?? TylerH or anybody with the same prob have this,too?

It had to have blown something or tripped something,b/c I wired up my pioneer connector,tried it...then ran my stocker (:eek: ) for a while and my guage lights stopped working as soon as I had tried the pioneer...regardless if I had NO head unit,stocker or whatever.

[TylerH]

You think it might be something to do with the "Dimmer" wire hooked up to the headunit? IDK I have an Alpine and when I installed it I had no problems. GL with it though.
Thats probably cause you installed it and did a proper job. Who knows what the idiots who put my deck in did, i'm hoping that it's the bulbs, but what are the chances that right after the install it stops working...

[element240]

hmm, did you guy's hook up the "illumination" wire to the deck?
on my deck there wasn't a place for it so i just left it out and my gauges work fine.

it could also be a shorted wire.

[Ghettokracker71]

Thats probably cause you installed it and did a proper job. Who knows what the idiots who put my deck in did, i'm hoping that it's the bulbs, but what are the chances that right after the install it stops working...
I highly doubt it bulb b/c I have the same problem.WTF would a bulb have to do with the wiring of the head unit? I hooked my "dimmer" wire to my pioneer BTW after I did the wiring for the adapter,I had my freind at Cartoyz who is a professional installer take a look....when he saw it,he said I should apply for a job there when I turn 18 :)

[Sil-Abc]

whats the dimmer wire?

[KOUKI KA-T]

Yeah really, what is the dimmer wire? Do you mean illumination wire? You do not hook up the illumination wire in our cars. If they used orange illumination wire then this is your problem, unhook it.

[Ghettokracker71]

Yeah really, what is the dimmer wire? Do you mean illumination wire? You do not hook up the illumination wire in our cars. If they used orange dimmer wire then this is your problem, unhook it.
is there something else that takes the place of the fuction of the traditional dimmer wire?

[GTGuy06]

its not the dimmer wire...i have the same prob, dash lights dont work nor taillights....dealership said that 99% of the time, its the Turn Signal control arm(aka lever) and that needs to be replaced. Hopefully gonna have that fixed this week

[Ghettokracker71]

its not the dimmer wire...i have the same prob, dash lights dont work nor taillights....dealership said that 99% of the time, its the Turn Signal control arm(aka lever) and that needs to be replaced. Hopefully gonna have that fixed this week
WTF would the turn signal control arm have to do with changing the deck then the light going bad ? That doesn't make sence. Blinkers work fine....I don't see how that could be related,damn thing.

[GTGuy06]

WTF would the turn signal control arm have to do with changing the deck then the light going bad ? That doesn't make sence. Blinkers work fine....I don't see how that could be related,damn thing.
Yea, thats what I said. It has to do with the wiring inside it dealing with the lights. Blinkers work fine because it just flips a little switch to tell the computer which blinker to blink, its hard to explain, but thats what the dealership said.

[TylerH]

Well if it's fixed when you take it in, i'm sure we'd all love to know that it's the problem. I miss my guages..... :wtc:

[KOUKI KA-T]

is there something else that takes the place of the fuction of the traditional dimmer wire?
First of all there is no dimmer wire for aftermarket stereo's, it's an orange illumination wire and you do not use it. you only use ignition and constant in the harness then ground straight to the chassis. If you have your stereo hooked up to the one wire that changes voltage with your dim switch, it will actually shut off when your lights are on. That wire that changes voltage actually cuts power to dim, not add. Your radio is not supposed to dim with the lights in your dash anyway. If you have hooked this radio up to the dimmer wire that controls the dashlights then that is your problem.

[Sil-Abc]

....i still dont kno what the dimmer wire is? what is it supposed to look like and where is it located?

[cdlong]

bump, i want to know too

[Ghettokracker71]

First of all there is no dimmer wire for aftermarket stereo's, it's an orange illumination wire and you do not use it. you only use ignition and constant in the harness then ground straight to the chassis. If you have your stereo hooked up to the one wire that changes voltage with your dim switch, it will actually shut off when your lights are on. That wire that changes voltage actually cuts power to dim, not add. Your radio is not supposed to dim with the lights in your dash anyway. If you have hooked this radio up to the dimmer wire that controls the dashlights then that is your problem.

None of the dimmer wires or illumination wires were hooked on my new deck.

[TylerH]

So if i pull the deck out i'm looking for an orange illumination wire to be hooked up to the stereo as well? That definatly sounds like the problem, because only when my turn my lights on (and the dimmer has control of the dash lights at that point) they turn off. Gonna have to check this after my exam today, hopefully ths is it.

[KOUKI KA-T]

You want to make sure the orange illumination wire coming from your head unit IS NOT hooked up to anything. Only wires you should be using off of your new deck are the red (ign+) yellow (batt constant) and ground wire straight to the chassis of the car. Then all the speaker wires and the blue remote wire if your using an aftermarket amp. The orange wire should not be connected from your head unit to anything. Just make sure that they haven't spliced any wires into the dash lights that are controled by the dimmer controls......

[kanekz]

Ok well, so if you are saying you gauge cluster lighting is not going on then this might be your answer. I had the same problem. No fuses blown..good. Turn the lights to On position. Make sure all parking/running lights are lit on the outside of the car (ie. rear taillights, side markers, etc) There maybe a bulb out. My problems was this, when I changed the gauge cluster and replaced the bezel, I forgot to hook the Dimmer adjuster knob thingy back to the harnerss. This is for a S14, it clips onto the bezel itself. Check that. Make sure its hooked up to its harness. There maybe a possiblity that the shop who installed took that off for some reason. Check...doesnt hurt. Really easy, either pop of from bezel or take the gauge cluster bezel out.

[TylerH]

Why would the cluster be taken out for the install of a stereo :confused:

[kanekz]

As I said...there maybe a reason. I dont know. Just giving you first hand experience. Dont check the harness then. It aint gonna hurt me smart-ass!! Also, you dont have to take out the cluster to get to the dimmer knob. Its on the bezel. The sad part is you cant even install a head unit in your car. You took it to a shop. Bleh

[TylerH]

Whoa chill, i wasn't bein a smart-ass. I took it to a shop 2 years ago, a week after buying it as my first car. I'm trying to fix it now, and i do appreciate the help.

[TylerH]

Here is a picture i took of the wiring, i'm awful at electrical :duh:
Any of these hooked up that shouldn't be?
Thanks again, i hope I can get this resolved.

[TylerH]

Ok so my illumination wire isn't hooked up either.

[GTGuy06]

well...tonite I accomplished two things. I was able to get my car running again(dead fuel pump) and I got my dash and taillights to work....along with my brights(hadnt worked since I got the car) and I just replaced the turn signal unit then BAM everything works again. Ill take pics tomorrow, too late now. but it was really easy to take off. 6 screws hold the steering colum cover on, 6 screws for the dash piece by your knees and 2 screws holding the unit in place. Might want to check that. Took like 2 mins to get everything off. If there are dark spots on the brass pieces inside the unit. might want to get that checked. thats what caused my lights to stop workin. Just thought Id update you on what happened

[TylerH]

Alright thanks, i guess thats what i've gotta try next.

[Ozone240]

Here is an old thread.

Dash lights out (http://www.zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=19847&highlight=dash+lights)

kevin