The dash of your vehicle provides a host of important information, and you'll need to see everything on your dash at night. That's why it's lit up with a variety of lights. If you notice that the dash lights on your vehicle are not working, it's important that you have the issues addressed. That's among the many things we do in our authorized service center at Carr Chevrolet.
Our factory-trained technicians have seen just about every automotive electrical problem, and they know exactly how to diagnose and fix any issues. Below, we share some of this experience with you in these five reasons your dash lights may not be working. If you still have questions or would like our service center to solve the problem for you, give us a call, schedule an appointment online, or simply swing by in person at 15005 SW Tualatin Valley Highway, Beaverton, OR 97006.
5. Problem with the Wiring
There are many reasons why your vehicle's wiring could have issues from prolonged vibrations to big bumps and even rodents chewing on wires. If the wiring associated with the dash lights has a problem, things can go dark. This may be something as simple as a loose connection or something harder to find like a short in the system or bad ground.
4. Dash Light Bulbs are Out
Today, the dashes on most vehicles are lit up by LED lights that should last the life of the vehicle. However, older vehicles had small light bulbs that would eventually burn out. If burned-out bulbs are to blame, you'll likely see them go out one at a time leaving a dark spot on the gauge cluster when they do. Replacing these bulbs involves removing the gauge cluster, so it may be best to leave this part to the experts at an authorized dealership service center.
3. Bad Fuse
This is a more common issue. Like all automotive electrical systems, the dash lights have a fuse designed to go bad and disconnect the circuit when too much power is introduced to the system. This protects components on the circuit from damage. Sometimes, a fuse will go bad for no other reason other than it's old. However, if the new fuse goes bad soon after installation, there's likely a more involved problem in the electrical system.
2. Dimmer Switch
What if your dash lights are not working but the fuse is good? A lot of vehicles are equipped with a dimmer switch that not only turns the dome light on and off, but also adjusts the brightness of the dash lights. If this switch gets turned all the way down, it can appear as if the dash lights are out completely. Even we're sometimes surprised by how easy it is to bump this switch and turn the dash lights all the way down without ever knowing. This is one of the first things we'll check.
1. Taillight is Out
This one may not seem to have anything to do with the dash lights. However, on a lot of vehicles today, the dash lights going out can be an indication that one or more of the taillights have gone out. Often, this is because the two sets of lights share the same fuse and circuit. If all your dash lights stop working at once, the fuse is good, and it's not the dimmer switch, walk around the back and check your taillights.
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