Instrument Cluster Backlighting Not Working...
#1
Instrument Cluster Backlighting Not Working...
Guys,
I'm working on my son's G35 Coupe. I'm trying to get it in as good shape as possible, before he graduates from Navy OCS (in Newport, Rhode Island). I want him to have as close to a trouble-free car when he is sent off to his next assignment as is possible. I've got 6 more weeks to iron out the bugs, and do general maintenance.
I've done a bunch of stuff. But so's not to divert the thread too much, just yesterday the Instrument Cluster started acting up. Here's what's going on:
However, just a few minutes ago, I drove it out to lunch. When I cranked it up after lunch to head back to the office, the left half of the cluster backlighting illuminated. Most of the right half did nothing. I didn't notice if the "REV" was on, or the odometer was on ... or not. I didn't think to notice. But once I started driving away, it seemed like the jostling of the vehicle moving, and what backlights were on, went back out. No amount of slapping, rolling of the brightness ****, shaking, bouncing, poking the trip meter button, nothing made it attempt to light back up.
This sure doesn't sound like a fuse. Fuses don't burn out then sort of reconnect again temporarily. And the brightness **** seemed to have no effect.
Last thing: Years ago, I pulled this cluster and sent it off to (I think it was to a company in Texas), who restored everything, and fixed the fuel gauge. It has worked great since then. Could this be in need of being sent off and checked / repaired again?
Thanks guys. I really want to whip this thing into great shape for him, due to all the torture he's currently going through.
PS - It runs like a top. Very powerful, tons of low end torque, helluva powerplant. Handles, brakes and basically any dynamic performance aspect his car is fantastic.
7milesout
I'm working on my son's G35 Coupe. I'm trying to get it in as good shape as possible, before he graduates from Navy OCS (in Newport, Rhode Island). I want him to have as close to a trouble-free car when he is sent off to his next assignment as is possible. I've got 6 more weeks to iron out the bugs, and do general maintenance.
I've done a bunch of stuff. But so's not to divert the thread too much, just yesterday the Instrument Cluster started acting up. Here's what's going on:
- The back lighting to the gauges is NOT lighting, however, see below the bullets.
- The "REV" light is also NOT lighting.
- The odometer is NOT lighting.
- However, the gauges work, but very difficult to see.
- The blinker repeaters in the cluster blinks properly.
- The gauges are all working (mph, tach, fuel, etc).
- The cruise power, and criuse lights work, so does the cruise control.
- Everything except the top 3 NOTs is working.
However, just a few minutes ago, I drove it out to lunch. When I cranked it up after lunch to head back to the office, the left half of the cluster backlighting illuminated. Most of the right half did nothing. I didn't notice if the "REV" was on, or the odometer was on ... or not. I didn't think to notice. But once I started driving away, it seemed like the jostling of the vehicle moving, and what backlights were on, went back out. No amount of slapping, rolling of the brightness ****, shaking, bouncing, poking the trip meter button, nothing made it attempt to light back up.
This sure doesn't sound like a fuse. Fuses don't burn out then sort of reconnect again temporarily. And the brightness **** seemed to have no effect.
Last thing: Years ago, I pulled this cluster and sent it off to (I think it was to a company in Texas), who restored everything, and fixed the fuel gauge. It has worked great since then. Could this be in need of being sent off and checked / repaired again?
Thanks guys. I really want to whip this thing into great shape for him, due to all the torture he's currently going through.
PS - It runs like a top. Very powerful, tons of low end torque, helluva powerplant. Handles, brakes and basically any dynamic performance aspect his car is fantastic.
7milesout
#2
So many components on the pcb of the combo meter (gauge cluster) have intermittent connection issues as the cars age. I believe this will likely be just like the fuel gauge problem you previously fixed. I had that problem too and resoldered mine myself following a diy thread on here. You might try searching for that thread and reading through it. If you search for "fuel gauge problem - detailed" you'll find it. It's ridiculously long but there's one post in there from somebody named something like ritchie that detailed a bunch of the components that need to be resoldered to fix a variety of problems. Or if diy is not your thing, you could send it off again and the same place probably knows which components to touch up to fix the backlighting. You can see it's intermittent as it started working spontaneously. It will probably stop again too. The backlight of my odometer and tripmeter no longer works. But I've just decided to live with it.... If I ever pull mine out again, I'll probably retouch every single solder joint on the board.
#3
The circuit board on these clusters are known to crap out. Ive gone through a few clusters now trying to get everything working. Some of the lights will come on/off with just a slight touch of pressure on different parts of the board. I have replaced many of the LEDs on mine. Sometimes u get lucky and its the actual LED thats burnt out. But sometimes its the actual board and you will never be able to figure out where the break/loose connection is. There are about a thousand super tiny solder points all over the board. Its impossible to retouch each one by hand. I have even experimented by heating up the entire board with a heat gun thinking it might soften up the solder and have it stick, but no luck.
BTW, the cluster also controls the manumatic mode. So if you have intermittent manumatic, its probably the cluster thats bad.
There is also a “Test Mode” you can activate on the cluster and it will light up every single bulb on there.
Here’s pictures of the front and back side of the cluster board if its any help:
BTW, the cluster also controls the manumatic mode. So if you have intermittent manumatic, its probably the cluster thats bad.
There is also a “Test Mode” you can activate on the cluster and it will light up every single bulb on there.
Here’s pictures of the front and back side of the cluster board if its any help:
#4
Yeah, I've had these clusters out before. They are a thing of beauty, a beauty in which nightmares are born! Not only am I not proficient at soldering, my eyesight is not as it good as it once was. My general plan is to start taking it apart, checking illumination as I go. Disconnect it, reconnect it and check it. Maybe going through those disassembly steps might "reconnect" to the point maybe it will stay connected for a while. If it doesn't, I'll send it off. He won't be keeping the car too much longer I think. A year or 2 maybe.
For a long time he has dreamed and wanted a somewhat late model Tacoma. Very practical that boy. He and I are following to see if Toyota does indeed launch the Stout. And he says he doesn't want 2 cars. I guess I don't blame him. He's going down the Nuke path at this time. And the Navy has already gave him so huge bonuses, and will be paying him well, that is if he completes the Nuclear program. So a Tacoma is feasible. Heck, he's got more than enough now to buy a new one cash. But he's smart, he'll probably buy a 4 or 5 year old vehicle. Unless the Stout is significantly less expensive than a Tacoma.
However, for the next year or so, while he is in Nuke school, I'd like his car to be as trouble-free as possible. Just out of interest, I hooked up to the OBD this morning and checked the codes. It has a pending P0463 (Fuel Level Sensor Circuit High Input). I don't know exactly what this means. I don't know if this code is a symptom, or a cause. Or totally unrelated. I have to guess it is related, but things are complex.
I'll do some research into it, see if I can figure that out. Thanks for the help!
7milesout
Thanks for your help guys.
For a long time he has dreamed and wanted a somewhat late model Tacoma. Very practical that boy. He and I are following to see if Toyota does indeed launch the Stout. And he says he doesn't want 2 cars. I guess I don't blame him. He's going down the Nuke path at this time. And the Navy has already gave him so huge bonuses, and will be paying him well, that is if he completes the Nuclear program. So a Tacoma is feasible. Heck, he's got more than enough now to buy a new one cash. But he's smart, he'll probably buy a 4 or 5 year old vehicle. Unless the Stout is significantly less expensive than a Tacoma.
However, for the next year or so, while he is in Nuke school, I'd like his car to be as trouble-free as possible. Just out of interest, I hooked up to the OBD this morning and checked the codes. It has a pending P0463 (Fuel Level Sensor Circuit High Input). I don't know exactly what this means. I don't know if this code is a symptom, or a cause. Or totally unrelated. I have to guess it is related, but things are complex.
I'll do some research into it, see if I can figure that out. Thanks for the help!
7milesout
Thanks for your help guys.
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