Dash replacement: Dials and Warning Lights not working -Help!

[Mike_Mac]

I've just re-fitted my dash after it was completely removed. On startup the engine ran fine, bu the instrument panel dials and most of the warning lights around them weren't working :

 

Not Working:

Speedo dial

Rev Counter and MIL light

Temp. and Fuel Gauges and the Cruise, T/C and Hazard lights (Full beam light ok though).

 

Working:

All RHS warning lights (Oil, Engine Management etc).

All LHS warning lights (Door, Seatbelt, A/B etc).

P,R,N,D,2,1 lights on rev dial are fine.

L/R indicator lights.

Full beam warning light.

Backlight

O/D light, Manu light.

Odo and hazard lights button.

 

I'm sure it's just the dials themselves, as I can still hear the cruise ECU clicking as I engage cruise, so I checked the wiring diagrams on this thread http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?t=17057&highlight=dash+pin and there seems to be a common power supply to all these areas (yellow cable), which has a 10A fuse. I've checked all my fuses and there was a Rad 2 (20A) fuse blown in the engine bay, but all others were fine, including the ones in the driver's footwell. There were also no error codes stored.

 

I've checked all the multiplugs I removed to get the dash out and the yellow power wire from the instrument panel back to its source (I think) on the orange multiplug in the passenger footwell for continuity. All seems fine and that's about where my knowledge (and wiring diagram) stops!

 

Can someone with more electrical knowledge advise me if there's any other fuses or relays I can check, or am I doing something wrong?

 

As a footnote there are two connectors which don't seem to go anywhere (see pics). Are they meant to be loose like that, as I can't see where they might fit? #1 is behind the stereo and #2 is just below the Cruise ECU.

[marbleapple]

HI Mate,

 

Just make sure that all the cables are connected. I once paniced because I couldn't get her to start after doing the same thing... it turned out that one of the cables had simply slipt back into the bulkhead and I hadn't noticed and thus not connected it (It was the hazard light connector hence the car wouldn't start).

 

Take them off and check. I think from memory there should be 2/3 plugging into the dials.

 

Edit: my post might not be useful at all if you have done more than just removing the dash panels. if this is the case then I apologise for wasting your time!

[Mike_Mac]

Edit: my post might not be useful at all if you have done more than just removing the dash panels. if this is the case then I apologise for wasting your time!

 

I have removed the entire dash and i'm 99% that all multiplugs are correct across the dash - that plus the lack of blown fuses and apparent connectivity is what's got me stumped.

[Jamesy W]

Blown dimmer switch perhaps?

[Mike_Mac]

Blown dimmer switch perhaps?

 

Dimmer Switch and Backlights work fine and are on a different circuit to the stuff that's blown.

[Mike_Mac]

Bo**ocks!

 

Went out the morning and decided to check the other end of the connections (into the driver's side kick panel and the fuse box). Before I started checking the wiring I decided to double check the 10 A 'Gauge' fuse, which was just as whole as the other three times i'd checked it.

 

However, just in case I swapped it with another 10A fuse and bingo - all is working. I didn't have time to dig any further, but I suspect there's a hairline fracture in the fuse itself that can't be seen normally! Lesson learned - always check your fuses with a multimeter too! I didn't have time to dig any further, so hopefully this was the only problem and not the symptom of a deeper cause!

 

Now I just need to put the dash back together again!