2001 Buick Regal--Dash lights dim

[msully64]

My wife was driving home today and the dash lights and radio are very dim. All the other lights look fine. Any suggestions?

[BNaylor]

How about the lights for the climate control and power window switches. Any lamp intensity variation using the dimmer at the headlight switch?

[msully64]

No. But once I turn off the car and turn off the headlights the radio gets bright. Also if I take out the fuse for the dimmer the radio will come on bright but not the dash.

[msully64]

The power windows work but the power windows lights are out and the only light on the climate control is the temp and it is dim until I turn off the headlights and then it gets bright.

[BNaylor]

A common issue is the dimmer switch. Best thing to do is check the 12 volt input to it and check the output varying the dimmer. Not too difficult to troubleshoot and/or replace. Just remove the access cover located on the left side of the dash.

[msully64]

How do you test it and replace it?

[msully64]

That was it. Thanks.

[Logitech]

I have a similar issue on my 2001 Buick Regal LS with 143,000 miles, regular 6 cylinder engine.

In my situation, ONLY the mileage/gear indicator on the dash want to a very low light. Everything else seems to work OK; dims and increases as it should. It's strictly the small light for the mileage/gears. At night, with the headlights on, I can make out the mileage and gear, but it's still not near as bright as it once was. Would replacing a dimmer switch fix this?

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by Logitech

I have a similar issue on my 2001 Buick Regal LS with 143,000 miles, regular 6 cylinder engine.

In my situation, ONLY the mileage/gear indicator on the dash want to a very low light. Everything else seems to work OK; dims and increases as it should. It's strictly the small light for the mileage/gears. At night, with the headlights on, I can make out the mileage and gear, but it's still not near as bright as it once was. Would replacing a dimmer switch fix this?

The dimmed or blanked out odometer LEDs and gear position is another issue. Normally not the headlight dimmer control unless other units are affected like the IP backlighting, etc. The fix is to remove the IP Cluster and do some soldering touch up on certain resistors on the printed circuit boards. I used to have a link to a procedure but that is no longer working.

[retrohwam]

Bob,
If you ever come across that info again I'd surely like to see it.
The odometer/gear lights went out in the original one in our 2001 and now a year after getting a replacement on eBay those lights are dimming also - these however will occasionally be visible

Thanks,
Duane

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by retrohwam

Bob,
If you ever come across that info again I'd surely like to see it.
The odometer/gear lights went out in the original one in our 2001 and now a year after getting a replacement on eBay those lights are dimming also - these however will occasionally be visible

Thanks,
Duane

Hi Duane,

I'll send you a PM message with a link. The web site referred to that had the tech procedure was redesigned so the old links no longer work.

[fontaj28]

Hi all. I'm new here. I am having the same problem as Logitech and it is literally just the odometer light that does not work. I assume I have a burned out bulb. My main problem is that I do not know how to properly remove the plastic on the Dash. BNaylor, would you mind sending me a PM with the link on how to remove the dash? Also, do you have any idea how much the bulbs cost to solve the problem?

Thanks for the help.
Joe

[retrohwam]

Joe,
I PM'd you the information you need (what Bob sent me).

Duane

[Skyknight_TN]

Bob, Duane, and Joe:

I too am having the odometer problem with my 2002 Regal LS. All instrument lights work except for the odometer/gear shift indicator. Would you please send the repair info to me by email?

Thanks for your help.

Skyknight_TN

[STONEBOSS1]

I too had the same issues with the IP cluster, at first it was the whole IP and hvac unit going out which was related to the headlight switch. Just replace the headlight switch, that should solve that issue. As far as the odometer/trip mileage/PRND21 lights thats a whole different scenario. Your going to have to pull out the IP cluster and resolder certain resistors or even replace them. I just recently did the fix and all is working fine. I will gather all the info and links that you will need to rectify this problem. As well as give you any guidance to the process. Most of the labor is getting the IP cluster removed which is a PITA. Will get back to you ASAP with additional info.