Weird Dashboard Lighting Issue

[prosports1977]

HI:

I have a 1999 Grand AM GT. My issue is with the dashboard and I will try to explain as best as I can.

When you start the car in the darkness which will cause the need for dashboard lights, they all light up ok. The dimmer switch works fine dimming higher and lower. The problem is in the area behind the steering wheel. Those 2 large circle compartments behind the steering wheel the one on the left lights fine but the one on the right behind the steering wheel where all the warning lights are the left half is not as bright as the right half of just that one compartment. IE only 1/2 of the compartment on the right is losing brightness.

What kind of problem could that be. My first thought was a fuse but I assume that would cause the entire dash to just quit.

Thanks for any help offered.

[xeroinfinity]

Welcome to AF!
I'd say its possible a bulb or two is out, but i though for sure they were LEDs which dont usually go out untill 1k's of hour.
Some of the top warning areas do hav bulbs that can be replaced.
I'll check into this more and see what I can come up with.

[grfnkl]

If you are talking about the warning lights themselves, 98% of them are LED'S the only ones that i had saw that looked to be replaceable is the turn signals and highbeam indicators. Which warning lights are dim exactly? The dash cluster itself, has 3 lights on the left ( tach side) to light up the numbers and 2 on the speedometer side. These lights are replaceable. If the warning lights are the issue, either they are wearing out, or maybe shorting out. Hope this helps some.

[prosports1977]

No its not the warning lights themselves, its that same compartment. Forinstance, If looking at a round clock, the left side of the clock is dimmer than the right side.

The compartment on the left speedometer is fully lit. It seems that the only answer would be some burnt out bulbs.

How do you change those?

[prosports1977]

Here is a better explanation.

The right hand compartment houses the speedometer. When Illumated..half of that entire circle is dimmer than the right side. In other words the lower speeds are dimmer than the higher speeds.... that entire half compartment is dimmer but not out. The left compartment with the RPM"S is fully lit

[grfnkl]

I'll do my best to describe on how to take out the cluster. without pics... at the moment

First you have to remove the to screw the hold the column together, after that the column comes apart (it's snapped together) There are four screws that hold the dash cluster cover on. Two on top ( which you can see) and two on the very bottom by the column. After removing the four screws, carefully remove the cluster cover. Once you remove it you'll see two more screws on the top that hold the cluster in on the dash. Once you remove them, your cluster should be free. It takes some time, but you have to manuever the cluster around to get it out. FYI: this is very important, do not bang on the cluster or give it any violent motions, you'll risk having the gauges read improperly. On the back of the cluster you'll mainly see a circuit board... with a few knob like pieces of plastic sticking out (if there is a cover covering the back of the gauge cluster, remove it). The plastic knobs are the bulbs, carefully twist and remove. The bulb is in one of these housing, you then can replace the bulb. FYI: becareful when removing the bulbs since they are very tiny they can break very easliy inside the housing. For reinstallation, just do the reverse. You may want to put the cluster back in and start the car to make sure the gauges reset themselves, before continuing to reassemling everything. Hopefully this helps you. Good luck.

[prosports1977]

thanks so much

[xeroinfinity]

They are a pita to get out

grfnkl, Arent those bulbs dealer parts only?
Hopfully you can get more than 1 for 10$ or so.

[grfnkl]

The bulbs are i believe 94's for the dash lights, the signals and highbeam takes 194, if i'm not mistaken. The LEDS maybe dealer only... But this is a PITA to do... i had to replace one above my odometer, and i went through hell doing so. I don't understand of all the lights to go out it had to be that one. I think you'll get 2 for about 7$'s since those little bulbs weren't cheap, since basically no one had them, around here.

[xeroinfinity]

Heres a pic of the inside of the cluster, with the gauge face off.
Gauges open

LeDs last for like 10k hrs or something
They usually only blow if they get to much juice.

[prosports1977]

thanks so much for taking the time to post those pictures. Im not sure if I will tackle it or not, because it sounds like a hard job. But I will check it out

[xeroinfinity]

Thats cool, no prob !

Actually heres a wiring diagram of the cluster layout.
Just in case, it might come in handy .