2005 G35 - As the title says, when the car headlights are off I have a bright lit up dash board and instantly turning lights to auto or on they turn off completely.

*side note this happened while the car alarm which we didn't know it even had started going off while driving*

So far have:
-Spun the dimmer **** both ways and there was no change.
-Disconnected the battery for extended period of time as I read it resets the computer and can possibly fix this
-Checked some of the fuses but don't know which ones are related to the dash?

My other question is I heard I might need to replace my 'dimmer switch' but when searching online for the dimmer switch it shows the whole control arm where you physically turn on the headlights. Is it that or the spin **** you physically adjust to dim the dash?

Any ideas please help

 

Anything?

 

I'd like to bump this thread I'm having the same issue as this fellow

 

I have the same issue on an 04 coupe. Is there an answer out there?

 

anything??? its like almost 2022 still have this problem lmao

 

I thought the same about my 04 and found out with just the key on with lights on no display lights.
started it and all works.

 

Still no solution it’s almost 2023😭😭

 

It's an incredibly uncommon issue that only a few people have experienced.

My guess is a failing instrument cluster, it reads the state of the headlights via CANBUS. The BCM sends the signal to switch the headlights on via CANBUS, the IPDM is reading the signal correctly since it's actually closing the relay to turn on the headlights, however the instrument cluster is either failing to read the signal, or the LED array for dim usage is broken (I think it's the same LED for dim and bright, just going through some electronics.

Firstly, check to make sure you don't just have the instrument cluster lights turned OFF, the dimmer switch controls all the interior backlighting, instrument cluster and COMPASS. If your compass is dimly illuminated but the instrument cluster is not then something has malfunctioned on the cluster. The computer in the instrument cluster is called the "unified meter control unit".

 

Mot sure if this could be an idea, only had my car a month..

Auto lights im guessing has a light sensor.. could it be bad, unplugged or missing?? So the car thinks it's always daytime ??

My other car had a similar issue.. the sensor was reading backwards 😳

 

i have the same issue and still can’t find anything on it lmao, but when my running taillight fuse blew my dash lights would turn on with my front lights so I still don’t know🤷‍♂️

 

did you ever figure this out, im having the same isissue but I manual swapped my g35