Cluster Brightness

[SlickGT1]

Oh yeah. I think RB is on to something here.

TwinsPoppa had some crazy shit going on as well when he hit the wrong wire in his attempt to make the angel eyes as the DRLs. He lost function of a few things, and would get engine fail safe errors.

[TECN1K]

So - hmm, not it, pulled the fuse for my AEs, so no draw on that line I tapped... Same behavior.

Not my ballasts, because it's the same even if my park lights are only on.

edit wait. maybe I fused the hot wire from the relay, not the input to the relay from the ECU harness... brb will pull relay.

...edit... nah. crap.

Oh well, scooped up a switch on ebay for $20. I'll try that. $20 for a spare isn't bad anyway.

[Ricky Bobby]

Btw I re-read your first post - if your dimmer function works on the cluster you probably don't have a problem. When your lights are on, the info display will probably stay the same and have a slightly reduced brightness to not overglare the display

[TECN1K]

oh there's totally something going on. anyone can check and confirm tonight for me - when you dim your cluster, the info display will dim as well, along with the mid/nav screen. I verified with my E39 which is essentially identical?

[Ricky Bobby]

^I can check it when I go home later, I have my car with me today - You need me to check when the lights are on and the lights are off, right?

[TECN1K]

Right. Behavior when the light are on - info display will dim, but will be noticeably adjustable.

[TECN1K]

Well that was fast, new switch was in my mailbox when I got home.

Drumroll.... yeah it was the switch. Who'da thunk.

I'm going to tear the old one apart and inspect, must have lost some contacts on the dimmer wheel.

Gotta love a cheap ebay fix. Nice and bright now - too bright. I'll just leave the wheel at the lowest setting

[g300d]

Just caught the tail end of this...interesting. The $h1t that goes wrong on our trucks, lol!

So you got the switch ordered already. I would have suggested to get the euro version switch as a step towards rear fogs at the same time if you are so inclined.

[TECN1K]

Not much to inspect, the rheostat is integrated.. but look at this tech for a 15 year old car. SMD Leds, plenty of spots for euro options (rear fogs.. wonder what the "other" dimmer wheel would control, see the spot next to it?)... really cool.

[tavo80816]

Mine started doing this about 2 weeks ago.