Gauge lights dont come on, and Radio isnt working - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

ZenkiLB · 10-24-2010, 07:05 PM

This is probably a stupid easy fix, i hope but ive tried searching for similar problems, but cant find the exact problem but anyway

Well my gauge cluster lights dont come on and no power going through the 12v power wire to the radio

i had a aftermarket radio that the wiring was done ghetto(twisted together and taped up) but the illumination wire and 12v power wire probably touched to cause these to be like this(what i was told)

ive already changed the T.C.U. and still same ole' shit, unless the one i got was shit to, and ive tried wiring a friends radio but it wasnt turning on either.

what to do next? i need to fix these little things asap=(

and ive checked the fuses aswell..

please help !

project7x · 10-24-2010, 09:16 PM

recheck all your fuses, under the hood and shit too. Sometimes not just the radio fuse blows. If all else fails, take it to a deck installer and start from scratch.

KiLLeR2001 · 10-24-2010, 11:28 PM

Do your tail lights / side markers light up when you turn your headlights on? If not, check the Tail Lamp fuse in the driver side kick panel.

ZenkiLB · 10-25-2010, 01:16 PM

Well the same time the gauge cluster lights went and the radio stopped working. the tail lights went out, and the windshield wipers stay on 24/7 while the car is on. but i replaced the blown fuse for the tail lights( they work as should ) and the windshield wipers i unplugged the harness from the switch and they shut off so im assuming all i need to fix the windshield wipers i just need to replace the switch/knob thing.

but i will double check all the fuses AGAIN! lol
its just frustrating.

but for the sidemarkers, the rear passenger one and the front driver one dont work, the other 2 do, but those might just be broken or something

projectRDM · 10-25-2010, 02:43 PM

Just bad bulbs there for your sidemarkers.

The gauge cluster lighting is on the same circuit as the parking lights, but since it's controlled via the dimmer too you might check the dimmer switch, could be bad. It provides the ground required for the lights.

For the radio, the ignition lead also powers the clock illumination on the cluster, does it work? Not the clock itself, but with the key on the clock will light up, if not then that circuit is bad, either a fuse or a shorted/cut wire.

ZenkiLB · 10-25-2010, 05:25 PM

yeah the clock lights up when the lights are off, when i turn on the headlights it dimmers like im assuming it should?

but could the radio be not working from the dimmer switch aswell?

s14freak · 08-02-2011, 02:24 PM

I'm gonna bump this, im having the same issue. The clock lights up when the lights are off, but when I turn them on, it goes out. My radio and parking lights still work though.

RideOrDie · 08-27-2011, 02:28 AM

^^^I have the exact same issue...

I thought it was a bad head light switch, replaced it but no dice. My next choice is replace the TCU, unless someone chimes in.

This happened after I was messing with the headlight switch and it got close to bare metal and caused it to arc. FML.

10-24-2010, 07:05 PM	#1
ZenkiLB Leaky Injector Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Florida Age: 31 Posts: 115 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Gauge lights dont come on, and Radio isnt working This is probably a stupid easy fix, i hope but ive tried searching for similar problems, but cant find the exact problem but anyway Well my gauge cluster lights dont come on and no power going through the 12v power wire to the radio i had a aftermarket radio that the wiring was done ghetto(twisted together and taped up) but the illumination wire and 12v power wire probably touched to cause these to be like this(what i was told) ive already changed the T.C.U. and still same ole' shit, unless the one i got was shit to, and ive tried wiring a friends radio but it wasnt turning on either. what to do next? i need to fix these little things asap=( and ive checked the fuses aswell.. please help !

10-24-2010, 11:28 PM	#3
KiLLeR2001 Post Whore! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: オーランドフロリダ Posts: 7,955 Trader Rating: (46) Feedback Score: 46 reviews	Do your tail lights / side markers light up when you turn your headlights on? If not, check the Tail Lamp fuse in the driver side kick panel. __________________

10-25-2010, 02:43 PM	#5
projectRDM Post Whore! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Atlanta Age: 47 Posts: 13,812 Trader Rating: (12) Feedback Score: 12 reviews	Just bad bulbs there for your sidemarkers. The gauge cluster lighting is on the same circuit as the parking lights, but since it's controlled via the dimmer too you might check the dimmer switch, could be bad. It provides the ground required for the lights. For the radio, the ignition lead also powers the clock illumination on the cluster, does it work? Not the clock itself, but with the key on the clock will light up, if not then that circuit is bad, either a fuse or a shorted/cut wire. __________________ FORMERLY R240NA Learn what's really going on and protect your assets now before they're gone forever: www.paypalsucks.com

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

10-24-2010, 09:16 PM	#2
project7x Leaky Injector Join Date: May 2010 Location: Canada/Washington Posts: 52 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	recheck all your fuses, under the hood and shit too. Sometimes not just the radio fuse blows. If all else fails, take it to a deck installer and start from scratch.

10-25-2010, 01:16 PM	#4
ZenkiLB Leaky Injector Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Florida Age: 31 Posts: 115 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Well the same time the gauge cluster lights went and the radio stopped working. the tail lights went out, and the windshield wipers stay on 24/7 while the car is on. but i replaced the blown fuse for the tail lights( they work as should ) and the windshield wipers i unplugged the harness from the switch and they shut off so im assuming all i need to fix the windshield wipers i just need to replace the switch/knob thing. but i will double check all the fuses AGAIN! lol its just frustrating. but for the sidemarkers, the rear passenger one and the front driver one dont work, the other 2 do, but those might just be broken or something

10-25-2010, 05:25 PM	#6
ZenkiLB Leaky Injector Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Florida Age: 31 Posts: 115 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	yeah the clock lights up when the lights are off, when i turn on the headlights it dimmers like im assuming it should? but could the radio be not working from the dimmer switch aswell?

08-02-2011, 02:24 PM	#7
s14freak Leaky Injector Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: North Charleston. SC Age: 33 Posts: 119 Trader Rating: (6) Feedback Score: 6 reviews	I'm gonna bump this, im having the same issue. The clock lights up when the lights are off, but when I turn them on, it goes out. My radio and parking lights still work though.

08-27-2011, 02:28 AM	#8
RideOrDie Leaky Injector Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Left Coast Posts: 114 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	^^^I have the exact same issue... I thought it was a bad head light switch, replaced it but no dice. My next choice is replace the TCU, unless someone chimes in. This happened after I was messing with the headlight switch and it got close to bare metal and caused it to arc. FML.