digital dash not staying lit....

31beretta · Post by **31beretta** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 8:06 pm

I have a 88' beretta with the digital dash. Whenever I turn on the headlights or parking lights, the dash will go black, when the lights are off, the dash is perfectly fine. When I play with the ignition (turning it on and off) I can get the dash to stay on with the lights on, but only for like 2 seconds and its VERY dim. what could be wrong? thanks for any help or info

whitetalonb16g · Post by **whitetalonb16g** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 11:51 pm

Now I'm no expert but, Try checking the dimmer switch. I know with the one I just swapped into mine (besides other problems) I can dim the entire dash out lights on or off.

Sometimes the dimmer goes bad and it has dead spots that turns the lights completely off.

just my 2cents

31beretta · Post by **31beretta** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 7:52 pm

Thanks for the reply, i've been thinking it's the dimmer switch as well becuase it fades out like the interior lights are supposed to do. I'll have to find another and try it out. Are they hard to switch?

Scanman88GT · Post by **Scanman88GT** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 9:57 pm

The whole module will just snap out of the dash. You shouldn't even need a screwdriver or anything to get it loose. There is a harness connector at the back of it. Just unplug it, connect to the new one and snap it back in the dash.

You might also try a can of electronic tuner cleaner from somewhere like Radio Shack. It's used for scratchy volume controls on radios and tv's. It has silicone in it, which will lubricate the inside of the dimmer. It is actually a variable resistor, or potentiometer, just like a volume control is. Spray it up real good, then move the brightness wheel back and forth several times from all the way down to all the way up. Then try putting it back in to see if it works. The tuner cleaner is only a couple of bucks for a small spray can.

31beretta · Post by **31beretta** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 10:26 pm

alright, so i'll try the cleaner stuff first and if it doesn't work, then i'll try to grab another switch to replace it. Thanks for the help

whitetalonb16g · Post by **whitetalonb16g** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 7:23 am

Also I just thought of something if it is not the dimmer switch try the 5 amp fuse on the bottom of the fuse box and see if that is blown. That controls the guage cluster when the lights are on.

31beretta · Post by **31beretta** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 6:40 pm

alright, i'll have to check it out, thanks man

whitetalonb16g · Post by **whitetalonb16g** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 12:22 am

did you ever fix this problem and If you did What fixed it ?

31beretta · Post by **31beretta** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 9:13 pm

nope, problem has even gotten a bit worse. I was showing my friend the car (it's off the road at a friends house) and everything was working fine, I had the radio low and of course the dash lit, but outta nowhere (nobody even bothered it) the gauges went blank and the radio shut off like I said happened before when the lights are turned on, so now it does this when I turn lights on or just outta nowhere. I havn't been able to do much with it seeing as though I am now a bit short on money. I was gonna get another switch to try like you said earlier here, but I asked around when I did have money and a few said they had one, but never got back to me. Now i'm gonna have to wait a little while.

docrodg · Post by **docrodg** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 1:42 pm

The radio cuts out? Sounds like it may be an electircal supply issue. Try getting the battery and alternator checked out at a parts store, they do it for free.

whitetalonb16g · Post by **whitetalonb16g** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 9:35 pm

The reason I asked if he fixed this is because mine just started doing this after I've been following it. I haven't tried a new headlight switch yet but I did check all the fuses and stuff.

The only thing odd is that I hear a clicking from the headlight relay (seems normal) when I turn on the headlights.

docrodg · Post by **docrodg** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 11:34 pm

You can sometimes hear that relay when you turn on the lights. So that is normal. Try cleaning the dimmer and see if that helps, sometimes you gotta get into the switch and clean it with a buffer on a moto-tool or VEY fine sandpaper to get off the carbon tracking. If you lose everything when you turn on the lights you probably have a problem in the charging circuit. If not just troubleshoot the dash wiring for the lights.

Jeff P · Post by **Jeff P** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 3:47 am

When you turn on your headlights the digital dash gets its "night illumination" power from a different source; it actually pulls it through a gray relay which gets its power from fuse 13. Fuse 13 also provides nighttime illumination to the other stuff in the car like the radio, headlight & wiper switches, etc (but not through the relay). If that helps.

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