Dashboard lights

[MikeO]

Funny one this one.

Just noticed the other night while driving with the lights on, that after about 20 minutes, or so, the back light for the temperature gauge goes off (like a bulbs blown). Though strangely, the needle is still illuminated! Now if you stop for a while and then switch the lights back on, the things OK. Only for it to go off again in 20 minutes, or so. Odd...

Anyone had this happen?

And does anyone know if the back light is just a bulb? Rather than a LED (or something like it) on what I assume is a printed circuit board (I'm assuming that's what they use in modern cars dashboards)?

If a bulb, how the hell do you get to it?

I suppose it's not that much a problem, just annoy the hell out of me.

 

[Chris Cupra R]

LEDs. my friend...

and new cars they want u to go to the dealers to fix it too as its a ******* to get the speedo cluster out ... very tight indead

 

[MikeO]

Thanks Chris

If they are LEDs, then that sort of explains the behavior. Though I think I might just ignore it, as I can imagine the sort of money the Dealers would want to sort it!!!

 

[Icecavern]

Which temperature guage? If it's the oil temperature gauge not the water temp then it might be the cable that's not connected properly.

 

[Guinness]

well from my experiance, I had a Nissan almera and the light behind the clock on that kept breaking every few weeks. I had it replaced 8 times in 1 year, no idea what it was but it was annoying. Note seat probably better for lights than the nissan lol

 

[MikeO]

Icecavern

It's the one to the left of the fuel gauge. Can't remember which one that is. You say "it might be the cable that's not connected properly", which cable are we talking about?

It looks like the gauge is continuing to work OK, even when the lights out (if that's any help). You can sort of tell this because the needle is still illuminated and is pointing about mid-way.

Thanks for your help so far.

 

[CHR15B]

The one next to the fuel gague is the water temp - most cars have this.

The extra one is at the bottom left of the cluster is the oil temp, this might not be on the circuit board as not all Mk4's have it.

 

[MikeO]

It's the water temp gauge. Think I'll just ignore it.