VR lvl 3 cluster screwed!

[SUSS8]

My speedo light bulb blew a while ago but the two side ones were working up until recently. They ended up going out too but everytime I smacked the top of the dash they would come back on. The other day I was driving and I started smelling like an electrical burn and noticed the all 3 globes were out any way changed them all today and nothing. Checked all the fuses and contacts everything was good but still no luck.... Wondering if any could shed some light!!!

[SUSS8]

Can anyone help? I wanna see if I can't find the problem before going to an auto elec

[HamaTime™]

First things first, do the globes just not work or has the entire cluster died/do any of the gauges/needles work?

Take your cluster out, and have a detailed look at the Green Plastic Membrane which covers the back of the cluster (and has all the copper lines running from the plugs to the various functions of the cluster...

Check for any damage of any kind, breaks in the copper tracks etc...

[SUSS8]

Just the globes don't work and I had a look behind the cluster and the membranes seem like they are all making contact and don't see any burns in it either

[SWE11L]

can the copper lines be fixed if there are score marks from twisting bulbs in and out?

[88GreenVN]

can the copper lines be fixed if there are score marks from twisting bulbs in and out?

Use a bit of alfoil and fold it over both sides of the PCB - you may need to take it half off to do this. Make sure the globe tags are not too tight or it will just rip it.

Clean off any green coating if you need to make a contact a little way away from the main contact area where the globe goes in. Super glue alfoil in place once the globe is in. Hint once the globe holder is in place the bulb can be pulled out from the holder without taking it out of the cluster again so can be a perm't fix.

I have made this repair several times when out and about fixing clusters for people.

[88GreenVN]

Just the globes don't work and I had a look behind the cluster and the membranes seem like they are all making contact and don't see any burns in it either

Are the globes blown - can happen. Swap fuse 1 over with another one see if that helps - I have seen fuses that look OK but still fail.

[SUSS8]

Swapped fuses around and changed new globes

[88GreenVN]

Swapped fuses around and changed new globes

Then the cluster is not getting 12v to the globes or the earth is bad. From memory the brown white wire feed power to the globes. See if you have power at C2#4 with the parkers on.

[SUSS8]

Just checked and it's got power by still won't turn on. If the headlights are off and I turn the key to ACC the lights flicker on and off really quick and that's it. Checked the back if the cluster and doesn't seem to be any burns or any bad connections so I'm stumped

[SUSS8]

Still havent figured this out it's really annoying now. Any auto elecs on JC that could suggest anything really need the help!

[James39]

Might need to get another cluster to test things out?

[SUSS8]

Might need to get another cluster to test things out?

Been trying to get a hold of one but got no luck in getting one to borrow.

[SUSS8]

Anyone know a decent auto elec in western suburbs? Still haven't worked it out and it's becoming difficult driving at night !!

[markovr]

instrument lights get powered from 2 sources on printed circuitboard so if all the lights are out it probably wouldnt be the tracks on the cluster.....probably 3 other potential sources of this fault.....wiring , headlamp switch or body control module.
Does the dimmer work for the other lamps in the dash like the console etc other than the cluster?
Illumination circuitry for the cluster lamps are fed straight 12v+ and the negative path is dimmed through the bcm electronics.
The dimming circuit uses a grey wire in the return path from the negative of the cluster lamps to the bcm.
Take out the dash cluster and try temporarily attaching a bit wire on instrument connector 2 terminal 5 (make sure it is on a grey wire) Thats the middle connector that sits in the plastic behind the cluster on the top row of terminals.....5 in from the left as you look at them and pluging the dash back in, turn the lights on and earthing this wire to metal of car...if instrument lights come on the fault will be either bcm or in the return path at least.