Dead gauge cluster lighting

[maiku]

I attempted to add in some LEDs to the gauges and accidentally shorted the contacts.
It seemed to burn out the cluster bulbs.
The turn signals, high beam and warning lights seem to work.
Just the backlighting no longer functions.
I checked all the fuses and replaced the broken one.

Any idea why the bulbs don't turn on anymore?
The bulbs are still good as I tested them working.

[Steve_M]

First thing to check, have you got a 12v feed from the combination switch on the Red/Black wire.

The gauge illumination earths via the same as all the other warming lights, so if you indicator / high beam work then thats ok.

If you have the feed up to the gauge cluster, then my guess is that you have shorted and burnt out the track on the printed circuit.

Wiring diagrams here http://www.manser42.freeserve.co.uk/Beat.zip if you need it.

[Obsessive]

Are your park lights working? Hopefully you've simply blown a fuse.

As Steve said test the Red/Black wire with the park lights on, if it's not got 12v then look at your fuse box. If it's OK then I too think you may have burnt out a track on the PCB, if so you may well be able to see where it has burnt out. :eek:

Remember that LED's are diodes and need to be put in the right way around.

[steveinjapan]

I attempted to add in some LEDs to the gauges and accidentally shorted the contacts.
It seemed to burn out the cluster bulbs.
The turn signals, high beam and warning lights seem to work.
Just the backlighting no longer functions.
I checked all the fuses and replaced the broken one.

Any idea why the bulbs don't turn on anymore?
The bulbs are still good as I tested them working.

Were you trying to replace the cluster backlight bulbs, or actually "adding" LEDs? If so, how were you going to do that exactly?

[maiku]

I was just replacing the cluster bulbs with LED bulbs

all other lights seem to work. Just not the backlighting for the gauges

[steveinjapan]

I was just replacing the cluster bulbs with LED bulbs

all other lights seem to work. Just not the backlighting for the gauges

Maiku, I was asking because I am in the midst of doing the same thing. I found that only one of the cluster backlighting lights could be replaced directly with an LED, the one on the far right (speedometer). The other 4 are in a little gray twist socket that says "Toshiba V-2". Were you able to get those bulbs out and replace them with LEDs? (I couldn't so ordered some special sockets.) Maybe your problem is there, but do you have voltage to the red/black wire and on the pc board?

[bigB]

If I recall, the bulbs pull out of the long, and short sockets. I used the same leds for all the sockets except the ones with the yellow dots and turn indicators.
Check for power on the printed ribbon board at each side where the socket inserts.

[maiku]

I did manage to pull out the toshiba V2 bulbs out and replaced them with T5 ones without a problem.
I think I just shorted out the board itself

[Obsessive]

Any chance of a photo of the board? Plus have you tested to see if there is 12v on the red/black wire yet?

If the track has burnt out it maybe possible to replace the burnt out part with a bit of wire.

[maiku]

Just an update, but I had time over the weekend to open up the cluster.
I found the track had been burned out and severed the connection on the printed circuit sheet.

I tried to substitute a wire, but I think I need to stand down the protective barrier first so the contacts are touching :rolleyes:

In any case, I got my EL gauges in so I don't really need the lights to work.
I just can't see the needles at night