After sleuthing forums forever, I cant seem to find a solution to a very specific lighting issue with my cluster gauge. I've taken the dash apart several times now, checked all connectors and boards, probed some pins, etc. and still no clue. Trying to be as descriptive as i can.
When the car is turned on, the right cluster light illuminates over the tach and temp gauge. This should not happen because I do not have the headlights on yet.
When turning on the headlights, then that same right cluster light turns off, and the left cluster light turns on (along with the rest of the console lights like they are supposed to.)
There appears to be some sort of reversal and while the car is on, turning the headlights on changes which of the two cluster light is illuminated. Here is what I know so far.
Previous owner installed LEDs for the dash lights. I've pulled them and put in regular bulbs and the issue still persisted.
Everything else on the dash functions flawlessly. All other lighting, gauges, etc.
The SI board looks pristine. It's covered in that electric protectant, has batteries that look brand new, not a single burnt trace or connector to be found. It is either super well preserved, or someone did an amazing refurb job.
The traces of the actual cluster also look pristine, and so do the metal ring tabs for the left/right cluster lights.
Other things to note:
l took the light switch apart and it seemed to be in good shape too.
The dimmer switch doesn't affect the right cluster light brightness.
Car has removed power antenna (not sure if this matters but it's on same circuit in the diagram.)
Previous owner installed after market headlights. But there didn't seem to be any wire splicing near the simmer switch.
I hope that for my sanity that someone has been through this before, but I sure cant find it on any forum.
1987 325i vert
When the car is turned on, the right cluster light illuminates over the tach and temp gauge. This should not happen because I do not have the headlights on yet.
When turning on the headlights, then that same right cluster light turns off, and the left cluster light turns on (along with the rest of the console lights like they are supposed to.)
There appears to be some sort of reversal and while the car is on, turning the headlights on changes which of the two cluster light is illuminated. Here is what I know so far.
Previous owner installed LEDs for the dash lights. I've pulled them and put in regular bulbs and the issue still persisted.
Everything else on the dash functions flawlessly. All other lighting, gauges, etc.
The SI board looks pristine. It's covered in that electric protectant, has batteries that look brand new, not a single burnt trace or connector to be found. It is either super well preserved, or someone did an amazing refurb job.
The traces of the actual cluster also look pristine, and so do the metal ring tabs for the left/right cluster lights.
Other things to note:
l took the light switch apart and it seemed to be in good shape too.
The dimmer switch doesn't affect the right cluster light brightness.
Car has removed power antenna (not sure if this matters but it's on same circuit in the diagram.)
Previous owner installed after market headlights. But there didn't seem to be any wire splicing near the simmer switch.
I hope that for my sanity that someone has been through this before, but I sure cant find it on any forum.
1987 325i vert
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