Dashboard illumination kaputt !!!

[zg7651do]

Hi folks ,
it's my first.. so , hello everybody ..good(..) to be here
I drive a european version of T&C , it's a 2002, 3.3 Grand Voyager Limited - AWD(and i LOVE it)
Well , after my attempt to repair and replace few tinny light bulbs in the climate control module (which went fairly well ..the know-how , i've picked from this forum .. ) it went very wrong few days ago . It obviously wasn't done well enough , and one of the bulbs burned out again and took few of those yellow leds at the fan speed knob with it .. including the smoke effects and irresistable odor in the aftermath . Full package . I've opened it again and it looks ... well , you know how... burned out and very unhealthy.
So the COMPLETE dashboard illumination died on me .Luckily , the a/c module display itself is working ok , a/c controls - all well , radio display(all radio , cd etc. functionS ) too , but no lighting behind whatsoever .
I couldn't find any fuses for the dashboard illumination in the fuse box , so HELP me fix it , please !!!!

[RIP]

Worst case, the panel lamp drivers are in the body control module better known as the BCM - around $300 USD. Another possibility is the lamp dimmer switch. Might try running it back and forth and wiggling side to side to see if you can get the lights to flicker. Before you throw big Euros at it, take the time to pull out every fuse and inspect. My schematic doesn't show a fuse but, they aren't always correct. Can you clean up the panel and put in new bulbs?

[zg7651do]

Hi RiP ,
i've tried , but it burned and destroyed a part of the pertinax plate too . I've tried to reconect the contact lines (using small pieces of wire -soldered it onto the existing ends of the lines ,including the new light bulbs , but no good .. still dead .
What is the cheaper option : whole new a/c module , or BCM ? ( ..or both ?? )
Regards , and thnx for the prompt answer
Ras

[zg7651do]

Hi again ,

just had to let ya know...IOD fuse NEEDS to be spanked every now and then !!!
It does wonders when you do that .Took it out for an entire afternoon , plugged it back in , and : voila ! dashboard lighting alive and kicking again ! Seems that my soldering talents have passed the trials and the ugly contacts DO the job , just as well as the pretty ones...though..they're really ugly . Hmpf !
Well , me happy again .

Hope it helps a poor soul or 2 , out there in the realm of confusion&frustration .

[RIP]

Great news! Haven't heard of a BCM reset fixing the lamp drivers before...and on a fried system to boot. Now that you've done it it makes perfect sense. You sir are one lucky sole...ok, talented too for fixing the fried circuit board. Good job.

You didn't happen to take pictures did you?

[zg7651do]

Hi RIP ,
..feel cocky like a schoolboy tapped on a sholder by a favorite teacher ; who's the man now , huh ! (lol)
I didn't take any pictures , but next time i open the dashboard i promisse i will .. on the other hand , it could destroy my newly earned status if anyone sees them..tough call !?
Regards and thnx again for the time and good will ...
(..this might be the begining of a beautiful and long friendship..lol! )