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Dashboard Display Lights Not Working on a 2000 Olds Silhouette


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pmcg521
New User
pmcg521 profile image

Jul 1, 2015, 7:57 PM

Post #1 of 12 (2026 views)
post icon Dashboard Display Lights Not Working on a 2000 Olds Silhouette Sign In

Recently, the dash lights on my 2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette minivan stopped working. The speedometer, RPM, fuel, and temperature lights do not turn on anymore. The only dash lights that work are the indicator lights (including turn signals, red seat belt, brights, etc).
I examined both fuse boxes (under the hood and interior) and none are blown out. I also tried resetting the computer by disconnecting the battery. Also, there is a dimmer that dims the entire dashboard and console. The dimmer functions properly, except the dash lights still don't go on. No luck at all.
It's not the bulbs, either, because they ALL went out at the same time. I'm pretty sure that it has something to do with the circuitry, but I have no idea how to fix it. Any ideas are greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jul 2, 2015, 2:13 AM

Post #2 of 12 (2002 views)
Re: Dashboard Display Lights Not Working on a 2000 Olds Silhouette Sign In

I don't know why people insist on disconnecting batteries thinking it's going to fix something. All it does is delete any important diagnostic info and make the car run bad for a while because it has to relearn all the idle and mixture adaptives.

First make sure you still have tail lights. If not, go look at fuses again. You may have a problem with the dash dimmer switch but double check the fuses again. There are 2 that can effect dash lights.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Jul 2, 2015, 2:14 AM)


pmcg521
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Jul 14, 2015, 2:14 PM

Post #3 of 12 (1967 views)
Re: Dashboard Display Lights Not Working on a 2000 Olds Silhouette Sign In

Thanks for the reply. I checked all the fuses again and all are in good condition. Also, my tail lights are working properly.

Update: I ordered a body control module off ebay because according to some people, a new BCM fixed the problem. I'm going to replace it and see what good it does, if any. Also, recently the speedo lights worked for a brief few seconds immediately after starting the car. Then they flashed, and went off. I will use the car's manual to help me tear down the dashboard and check for any faulty wires or connections as well. I'll post another update sometime after I attempt to fix it.


Tom Greenleaf
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Jul 14, 2015, 2:50 PM

Post #4 of 12 (1964 views)
Re: Dashboard Display Lights Not Working on a 2000 Olds Silhouette Sign In

Don't expect the car's owner's manual to show you how to fix anything - they are to show you what features do what and how to operate them, capacities, fuse info but not repairs.


If anything just works for a while and quits my first suspect thing is a plug to it or a common ground. Parts tossing because somebody someplace did this or that on the web doesn't mean diddle IMO. Seen plenty up to cleaning your catalytic converter with dish soap - now it's nice and clean - right!


If you have lots of test equipment and want to do this all without buying software with lots of techno information it leaves forums like this or send it out. New part tossing might confuse or cause another issue or in this case need to program a BCM (can't know all cars) if changed with equipment you wont have,


T



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jul 14, 2015, 2:59 PM

Post #5 of 12 (1960 views)
Re: Dashboard Display Lights Not Working on a 2000 Olds Silhouette Sign In

Who's going to program it?



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jul 14, 2015, 3:16 PM

Post #6 of 12 (1957 views)
Re: Dashboard Display Lights Not Working on a 2000 Olds Silhouette Sign In

I heard on the web you could just hold a cell phone near it on Amazon for free @ 1-888-555-WXYZ, - rightTongue


T


Discretesignals
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Jul 14, 2015, 3:34 PM

Post #7 of 12 (1953 views)
Re: Dashboard Display Lights Not Working on a 2000 Olds Silhouette Sign In

Don't know why your replacing the BCM. It has nothing to do with the illumination lamps in the instrument cluster.





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pmcg521
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Jul 14, 2015, 5:07 PM

Post #8 of 12 (1948 views)
Re: Dashboard Display Lights Not Working on a 2000 Olds Silhouette Sign In

I appreciate all the quick and helpful replies. I did not yet replace the BCM. However, I opened up the instrument cluster and it seems that all the bulbs, wires and connections are in pristine condition, which is basically what I expected.
Like I said, the entire speedo lights go out, so it's not a faulty lamp, but rather a faulty connection... this is where the touchy ignition comes in.
While working on the car today, the BCM began to beep... beep... beep because I had the battery running. I noticed a pause in the beeps whenever I messed with anything on the dash panel. Eventually, I figured out that the ignition is touchy -- for example, when I turn the key a certain way, the beeps will stop, and then pick up again once I stop touching it.
So I guess the problem all along was the touchy ignition. It must have caused the speedo lights to turn on -- and then off again.

My questions:
1) Is it beneficial to replace the BCM at this point? If so, how do you program it?
2) What the hell can I do to fix the touchy ignition?

Thanks.


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jul 14, 2015, 5:39 PM

Post #9 of 12 (1936 views)
Re: Dashboard Display Lights Not Working on a 2000 Olds Silhouette Sign In

You sure the beeping wasn't for the key in the ignition with the door open? There is a little switch inside the lock cylinder that is used to tell the BCM there is a key in the ignition. Sometimes wiggling the key can make that switch open and close.

Like I stated the BCM has nothing to do with the instrument illumination. The BCM controls the courtesy and dome lights though.

If you have illumination on your window switches, AC control panel illumination bulbs, ash tray lamp, and steering wheel controls, then you have some sort of wiring or connection problem either in the cluster, a problem in circuit from the splice to the cluster, or a poor cluster lamp ground.

Have you taken any voltage measurements at the back of the cluster?





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.


pmcg521
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Jul 14, 2015, 7:20 PM

Post #10 of 12 (1927 views)
Re: Dashboard Display Lights Not Working on a 2000 Olds Silhouette Sign In

I don't have the tools to do voltage measurements. At this point, I think I'm more comfortable just taking it into Midas because I have little knowledge of circuitry and I need these lights to work ASAP. It's not easy driving past a cop at night without knowing your exact speed.

This car has a history of problems anyway. For example, the right turn signal shorts out frequently, unlock switch does not work from within the car (BCM issue?), right window does not roll up, left window barely rolls up, AC frequently needs refrigerant refill in order to work.

I've been able to live with these problems, but unfortunately the speedo lights are a bigger problem that I would rather have a mechanic fix for me. I just don't feel comfortable messing with wires and potentially causing bigger problems.

I appreciate everyone's help. If anyone has any suggestions before I take it in, feel free to let me know! Thanks a lot. Smile


(This post was edited by pmcg521 on Jul 14, 2015, 7:22 PM)


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jul 15, 2015, 2:10 AM

Post #11 of 12 (1918 views)
Re: Dashboard Display Lights Not Working on a 2000 Olds Silhouette Sign In


Quote
At this point, I think I'm more comfortable just taking it into Midas because I have little knowledge of circuitry


Neither do they



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jul 15, 2015, 3:22 AM

Post #12 of 12 (1916 views)
Re: Dashboard Display Lights Not Working on a 2000 Olds Silhouette Sign In

^^^^ What he said - ditto. I'd sooner look for an independent shop and just tell them what you notice. Without even minimal test equipment this is probably not the place to be learning but still think a connection will be found.


Said was everything LOOKED GREAT - means nothing. It reacted when you were "wiggling" around with wires under dash and that's a strong clue of where the trouble is.


Forget this BCM thing. Let this job go out but if still motivated you don't need to invest the world for some things you can do.


Test light is under $10 bucks. It works but Harbor Freight has Digital Volt Ohm Meters for low bucks too. Know what the tools can and can't do. You can check fuses without taking them out and so on.


A real mess is in the course of even checking things knowing how NOT to break stuff. The dash takes the cake for that.


Look for a good independent shop. Dealers can be fine too but almost have to be pricey for what they take on.


You may find this is a no parts needed fix - can't say yet,


T







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