2013 Corolla S Instrument cluster and dashboard lights have gone dark.

[Drannon]

I noticed about a week ago the instrument cluster lights and lights behind the ac/vent controls getting dimmer. Two nights ago they were completely out. I checked the dimmer pot (on the trip reset switch) to no effect. Also checked a couple of fuses that seemed like they might be connected... all the fuses looked fine. I'm thinking maybe the dimmer pot has gone? I don't think it's the lamps themselves because all of the lights controlled by the dimmer are out, while all other lights are still functioning.

Any ideas?

TIA

 

[insideMAN]

I noticed about a week ago the instrument cluster lights and lights behind the ac/vent controls getting dimmer. Two nights ago they were completely out. I checked the dimmer pot (on the trip reset switch) to no effect. Also checked a couple of fuses that seemed like they might be connected... all the fuses looked fine. I'm thinking maybe the dimmer pot has gone? I don't think it's the lamps themselves because all of the lights controlled by the dimmer are out, while all other lights are still functioning.

Any ideas?

TIA

Sounds like the dimmer switch is likely the issue, especially since all the lights it controls went out at once. If the fuses are fine and other lights work, its probably not the bulbs. Try testing or bypassing the dimmer to see if that brings them back. Also worth checking for any loose wiring behind the dash.

 

[theguyyouaskforhelp]

Sounds like the dimmer switch is likely the issue, especially since all the lights it controls went out at once. If the fuses are fine and other lights work, its probably not the bulbs. Try testing or bypassing the dimmer to see if that brings them back. Also worth checking for any loose wiring behind the dash.

or it could be the contacts for the dimmer. 99% is the dimmer in these cases so I'd take it out, clean it and try bypassing it. If it still doesn't work, then it's a different kind of an electrical problem.

 

[insideMAN]

or it could be the contacts for the dimmer. 99% is the dimmer in these cases so I'd take it out, clean it and try bypassing it. If it still doesn't work, then it's a different kind of an electrical problem.

You're right, this makes sense too. Thansk for jumping in

 

[slowcarfast]

A friend of mine had a somewhat similar problem, he was chasing gremlins for weeks only to figure that a quick contact cleaning solved the problem. The moral of this story is to try with the simplest solutions before moving over to the more complicated ones.