Interior lights flicker when I turn brightness knob up…

[mjr24]

It doesn’t do it unless I’m actually turning the brightness knob up. They just flicker for a second but otherwise they are fine.

Is this normal?

[MrBurgundy]

sounds like a dead spot on the dimmer

[82eye]

contact cleaner might help. the used for computers, electronics, etc.

[mjr24]

contact cleaner might help. the used for computers, electronics, etc.

So you mean take the switch out that has the dimmer knob and clean that, correct?

[mjr24]

sounds like a dead spot on the dimmer

You mean on the dimmer switch in the dash, correct? Or is there a separate relay somewhere?

[82eye]

So you mean take the switch out that has the dimmer knob and clean that, correct?

you can do that or spray it in place. used to buy and sell 80s/90s stereo equipment, it worked really well on dirty potentiometers etc. i've used it to clean a few car switches over the years as well.

[mjr24]

Thanks, will try that tomorrow. I can already tell my new best friend with this car is going to be contact cleaner. Those switches are expensive as hell now….$250.

I hate going to realoem to see how cheap a part is supposed to
be (I don’t know when their pricing is from?) just to do a google search and see it’s going now for 3-4 times that.

[mjr24]

So I did this just now and I feel it’s fixed the issue. I won’t know for sure until it’s dark out.

On another note, could this have had some effect on my service indicator lights? When I got the car a few days ago….the second to left green light was not on but the other four were (see picture). I don’t think that’s how it works normally….so I figured I had a burnt out bulb or a bad solder on that second to left LED.

However, I noticed today all 5 green ones are lit. Could spraying contact cleaner on that headlight switch have fixed that? I know the dimmer controls the instrument cluster dim, too…..but I don’t think the service indicator lights or the warning lights next to it (brake lining, etc) dim even when you dim the brightness to the lowest setting.

[mjr24]

Edit: now only 4 are lighting up again with that second to left burnt out. Oh well.

On the plus side, I do think the contact cleaner fixed the flickering issue with the dimmer switch.