Dimming gauge lights

Joined
25 November 2004
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627
Location
Upstate NY
I've noticed that whenever I turn on my parking lights or headlights, all of the interior lights, including the radio and ccu displays, become very dim--so dim that they can barely be seen if there is any light outside at all. Is this typical? By the way, this happens even if the interior dimmer switch is turned to the brightest setting.
 
Yes it is typical. I know a few folks may have rewired to eliminate this. You may want to do a search, I cannot recall what forum this topic was in:).

Regards,
LarryB
 
fuse NO 30 in the front (tire) compartment. Remove it if you want them not to dim. I built a little circuit that keeps it from turning on during the day, and operate correctly at night, when it should. Very little thought went into it. For safety, I drive with lights on during day; or all the time. I can send you the circuit diagram and part numbers if you want to build your own.
 
Thank you, all. I'm sure not going to start rewiring the car for this. Thom--does removing fuse#30 fix the problem w/o affecting anything else?
 
Doc308 said:
Thank you, all. I'm sure not going to start rewiring the car for this. Thom--does removing fuse#30 fix the problem w/o affecting anything else?

Removing Fuse 30 stops the dash lights from diming...permanently, or until you return it to its place. No other items are affected.
 
Sorry to sound so ignorant, but which fuse is # 30? I looked at the fuse diagram on the fuse box cover and they aren't numbered. I did pull the 15 amp fuse labelled "illumin" and my interior lights and passenger side tail lights went out. Obviously not the right one--which one is?
 
When I first read Thom's reply while overseas on business, I was embarrassesd I may have missed something so obvious as pulling a fuse to eliminate this feature.
I re-checked the schematics upon my return. Mine is 93 and the online manual (91) is similar in this aspect.
Fuse number 30 in my manual is for the ABS motor.
Fuse # 38 (if that is what was intended) will actually inhibit the dimmer - but also unfortunately cause you to lose power to the front parking lights, rear side markers, & rear tail-lights which are pretty important functions as well as a host of other functions!

Maybe it's different for later years or ???? (However I see from your profile Thom, you have a '91)
 

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Hi Dan - that is essentially what I recommended in my link referenced in post #3 of this thread. However, you did make yours more complicated than necessary with the addition of the diodes - they really aren't necessary for this to function as desired (although they certainly don't hurt anything)
Thom - sorry, your suggestion is just plain wrong on two counts - wrong fuse ID to begin with and the fact that the correct one will kill your lights as well as the dimmer function.
 
Ok here is where I eat my own crow, humble pie if you wish. D'Ecosse was correct. One thing I did not notice at first was that the perimeter lights around the car were disabled when the fuse was removed. I was only concentrating or primarily concerned with the headlights. I will now have to find a new place to connect the LDR circuit. My apologies.
 
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