IndyA8

Now I've looked closely at what is going on. When I turn on the car, and it is in park, lights on or lights off, the temperature indicators, the fan, the radio station indicator and the light under the button for the tuned station are on, all other lights in the console are out. I put it in reverse and all the lights light, including the fog lights, even though they aren't on, and in the center gauge, the indicator light for the head lights comes on, even if they aren't actually on. As soon as I put it in drive, the head light indicator goes off, whether the headlights are on or off. The Fog light button goes out, unless the fog lights are on, in which case it lights properly. All the lights that didn't work in park, but worked in reverse, now go out again.

Does this suck or what? I used to have a 91 200Q with the 20V turbo and a 5 speed. I loved that car, but once my wife took it for a drive , came home and walked in, leaving the motor running in the garage. I asked why she didn't turn it off, she just tossed me the keys, which she had pulled out of the ignition after turning it off. I went out, and in fact, car was running with the ignition off and no keys. Pulled the backseat to disconnect the battery. $1,000 later, found out it was a short and they had to pull the entire dash out to find it.

Do I have another wacky problem. Man I hope not!

SamIam

KaMaKaZieP -ALUMIN8-

When you put in in reverse it sounds like the current from the back up lights is somehow jumping to the parking light bulbs, turning on the marker lights triggering the headlight indicator. Check your connections in the trunk lid.

PaulW

Good description, I'll look at the Bently when I get back this afternoon, what year is it?

pw

PaulW

If you have a 97 (which I think you do), please pull the following fuse and put it in reverse again and tell me if it does the same thing.

If you have a 98 or 99, do it anyway, I'm not sure if it's the same fuse though.

Pull fuse ST3, S6 (10 amp). It's the third row down, sixth fuse in from the rear. It powers the back up lights and the mirror memory control module.

By pulling the fuse, see if it does the same thing, I'm thinking it won't light anything up in reverse. I believe it's providing a ground path for those circuits right now but I can't see where. I will now look up the other dash circuits. But pull that fuse and check it and report back.

I think this will be pretty easy to troubleshoot via the internet.

The fuse is in the fuse panel on the bottom right of the passenerger foot well. You can see it in the yellow fuse holder on the right side of the picture.

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/22012/relay_box2.jpg">

PaulW

1. Does the dash lights (i.e. instrument cluster tach, speedo, gages, etc) lights come on with the ignition on and/or the lights on?

2. If they do go on, what happens when you press the dash dimmer switch on the right side of the dash? Hold it down in the up and down position and does it change the brightness of the lights?

3. If the dash lights don't go on, put it in reverse to get the lights on (including the center console switch lights) and manipulate the dash dimmer switch. Does it have any effect? Or are the lights just on their brightest setting?

I've got schematics printed out all over the place, we should figure this out quick.

pw

PaulW

You stated in an earlier post that your cigarette lighter did not work. Check fuse ST3 S3 (third from the back), 15A. Is it good?

I can't figure out for the life of me that when in reverse it is lighting up your dash lights. Do the dash dimmer switch test I described and report back. I'm thinking that it could be a bad dimmer switch or something that went bad in the instrument cluster. If it is a bad dimmer switch, I think you need to replace the whole instrument cluster.

pw

IndyA8

I just got back from a day trip and leaving again at 8AM. Will take a look in the AM or tomorrow evening when I return.

Paul, aren't you a sales guy? I sell computer software and drive alot also. Jasper, IN tomorrow, Oakbrook, IL on Monday, Cincy, OH on THursday. That's so far.

Thanks,

Sam

PaulW

Oak Brook on Monday? I live about 5 miles from there.....will be working at home that day. Maybe you should stop by.