TurboA6

I have an issue with my dash lights and, yes, I searched. I tried most of the "fixes" and am still left in the dark (literally). What doesn't work:
Gauge lights, climate control background lighting, glove box lamp, all ash tray lamps, license plate lamps, and the lights-on buzzer. I checked the fuses, and they're all fine. The strange thing is, when I replace the 5amp fuse (#14 I believe) with something little larger (7.5amp or 10amp, for example) my license plate and my glove compartment lamps work. However, when I do this, the climate control lights (temp and setting lights) go blank. This is only when I have a larger fuse in. If I have the regular 5amp fuse in, only the climate control temp ad setting lights come on, and STAY on when the lights are on. If I haven't confused anyone too much yet, does anyone have any tips? It looks like the front ashtray bulb is out, and nothing was open to replace it (and of course Wal-Mart doesn't carry the bulb...) so I'll have to try that tomorrow. Anyone else have any other tips? Thanks in advance!

V8QinNJ

As not to assume.. Y/M please (Yr Model)

TurboA6

Sorry, I guess I forgot the most basic information. It's a 1987 5000 S Quattro. Thanks again.

TurboA6

SUCCESS! I figured it out after God knows how long of living without IP lights. I tried EVERYthing and nothing worked. I looked at the trunk wiring, it was fine. I looked at all the bulbs, they were fine. Everything checked out fine. Finally today I was looking at the circuit panel on the back of the gauge cluster, and noticed that a stretch of circuit leading from the dimmer switch to the top-right connector was broken, and the plastic that around that area was melted, so I took a single piece of wire that I had lying around and used electrical tape and connected the two areas, and SUCCESS! I have lights! Now I can either keep it jimmy-rigged with the electrical tape and wire, or I can buy a new set of gauges on eBay...which would also solve my odometer issue. But at least I have lights again!

hdmyers

Another option is to solder your connection.... why buy new stuff when you can fix it? (i should ask myself that question actually !)

TurboA6

I could do that, but my odometer has said 117,199 for two years now and it would be nice to have a working one. It took a LOT to get used to not using the trip odo to check my fuel economy at every fill-up.

hdmyers

Not sure if we alrady had this convo. My odo doesn't work..when my speedo doesn't work.... (bouncy bounce). Fix the bounce (elec connectino back of the cluster) and the odo will work (mine is intermittent). If i recall though, your odo is just broken period. (deja vu conversation here)