Fixing an Instrument Cluster that doesn’t light up

***Want to own to tools I used on this video ? Click on the links below to get them****
**** OTC Test Light *****
**** Assorted wire test lead kit ****
**** Power Probe III *****

Come join me diagnose this 2009 KIA SPECTRA, that has a certain issue where the instrument cluster lights don’t light up. So it makes fairly difficult to drive this vehicle during the night. Let’s jump into this video and see what issue we find this time.

[OzMechanics]

**Want to own the tools I use ?? Click on the amazon link below to get my top 5 Tools I use**

[akboss]

My panel failed on me and I was very close to buy another one, then I stump to this video... you sir, saved a lot of money. Thanks

[WINGNUT]

Absolutely the very best troubleshooting video I have seen on YouTube. Very explicit diagnosis procedure, clearly identified components and a great explanation of the steps to follow to eliminate all possible causes of the problem. Although my vehicle is a PT Cruiser, the methodology and T/S analysis is universal. I actually am much less intimidated to attack my problem which is no instrument panel lights; even after R&R of all bulbs. And yes. I have subscribed and "LIKED" the Oz Mechanics channel. Thanks.

[oros]

Wow, I think you just saved me hours of headache! Now for me to tackle the job and fix my cluster. Thank you!

[OzMechanics]

If you feel like this video helped out, feel free to support the channel by donating. Just one click away on the link below, to help support the channel :)
***Want to own to tools I used on this video ? Click on the links below to get them****
**** OTC Test Light
**** Assorted wire test lead kit ****
**** Power Probe III

[jgeorges]

OZ, great diagnosis and thought process really appreciate the way u showed the wiring diagram and explaining circuit thanks for sharing brother.

[birdcan]

That AES kit looks awesome..can’t wait to get my paws on one..Great Video as always partna!

[benmoon]

Thank you so much this helped me on my 2000 Toyota four Runner didn’t have the dimmer switch plugged in

[grabovg]

I was like yelling at the screen when you were navigating the wiring diagrams. Screaming pick interior lights. lol. Great video as always my friend loved the process.

[musicauthority]

Some contact cleaner might have cured that reostat switch. those potentiometer switches have been known to return to as good as new, with a small dose of contact cleaner. however depending on how much it gets used? it may need another dose within six months to a year?and if it gets used a lot, it simply may be worn out and needs to be replaced.

[joncappo]

Nice work! I’m having same problem on 2005 spectra

[unclemarksdiyauto]

Another great fix Oz! FIY link to test leads say kit unavailable. May need to find another link.

[BeastKillaGaming]

I have that problem right now. But my window power switch doesn’t turn on. So my window switch, my dashboard, ac control unit and my shift gear unit don’t light up…. Hopefully the dimmer replacement fixes all that

[richardcranium]

looking at the schematics i wouldda pulled the control instead of the instrument cluster, since its all fed pos and the ground is control. whats the chances that all the bulbs in the cluster are bad? so much easier to get to and if you were wrong you'd pull the cluster anyways. but then if i was hung over who knows i might have done the same thing lol

[Bethox]

I have the same trouble in my bmw e30 my cluster lights don’t work anymore

[flynnibus]

@OzMechanics how did you get access to the lower dash panel to get to the switches? The end seems covered but you didn't have to remove/loosen the upper dash?

[dallasitedallasite]

I've got what appears to be an electrical issue with my 2017 kia sportage sx turbo, but I don't have alot of confidence with the kia dealer. Here's whats happening:

The radio and touchscreen has been randomly blinking in and out for about a month now. The touchscreen would go black and radio would go out intermittently while driving and come back on a few seconds later. At first, I thought, could be the radio unit is going bad. One time when the radio blinked out, the display behind the steering wheel in between the rpm and speedometer blinked out too. That probably happened twice. Two weeks ago, when I was driving on the highway at very slow speed due to traffic; at a crawl, I was moving into another lane, the radio blacked out, then the display behind the steering wheel, then my power steering when out for a few seconds and made a squeal type noise when I turned the wheel slightly (not sure if it was an electronic squeal noise or physical squeal noise). Then the power steering came back normal after a few seconds. The engine did not go out at all. That really freaked me out. I got to a restaurant to park and as I was pulling into the spot at a crawl speed, radio blanked out, then the display behind the steering wheel, then the steering wheel went out again and made a squealing type noise when I turned wheel. Steering came back after a few seconds. When I came back out of the restaurant, all was normal again. The battery was replaced with a brand new one 8 months ago. Not sure what all this means; but it is making me nervous as hell.

I took the car to the Kia dealer a week ago. I talked with the mechanic personally this morning after he had a day or two to try and duplicate the issue. He drove it around the last few days and is not able to duplicate the issue. It is not happening when he drives it. I asked him, what if it was happening and you saw it what would you do. He explained to me that he has the tool plugged into the car so when something happens it will register in the tool. He's actively monitoring the tool while he's trying to duplicate the issue. Without being able to duplicate the issue while the tools plugged in there's no way to determine what is wrong. I have to pay the diagnostic fee either way whether he finds something or not so I told him to keep it a few extra days and to keep driving it to try and figure out what's wrong. If he can't duplicate it I'm going to end up taking this car back and it's going to eventually do this on and off until I don't know something worse happens. Not a good feeling when the kia dealership can't figure it out. I asked him, doesn't the car's computer capture in memory some kind of issue when it goes wrong and he said no it doesn't the tool has to be plugged in to capture it while it's happening. I don't know enough about it to say whether that is true or not. Let's say that he just cannot duplicate it during the time he has it and I get it back. Is there a tool I can buy and leave plugged in that will capture what's going on? I'm kind of at a loss on what to do.

I'm in the Dallas TX area. Any advice you can give or anyone you might know closer to me would be so appreciated. If you were not 4 hours away, I’d drive it to you. Thanks!

[TaSiyaWorld]

My renault stepway 2019 was in a small accident about a month ago.
The driver headlight got damaged. The headlight was replaced but the dashlight is off and the front dim lights don't work

[markchimmy]

My problem is in my 05 lincoln town car everything is lit up except temperature gauge. Please let me know what you think 🙏 thank you.

[mylifejourney]

So are al three of those testers mandatory for that testing? My cluster doesn't light up at all neither does my side door. My swtich is for headlights and cluster. it does work with headlights, but the cluster dial doesn't work. And its a new switch.