instrument panel lighting

[pangster]

Hi, I have a 2003 Pontiac Vibe. Recently I've started having a problem with the instrument panel lighting. The lights will come on when the car is turned on, but while I am driving, I will hear a "click" and the instrument panel will go dark (speedometer, fuel gauge, clock, radio, etc.) The indicator lights for high beam and the left/right signals will still work. Once, the panel lights turned back on again by themselves while I was driving (I usually only drive short distances). I took my car into a local mechanic, who said that the battery and fuses appeared to be working fine. I don't have any sort of covering on my dashboard, and I haven't yet been to an electrician.One friend suggested the instrument panel switchboard was placed on with "compression" (like in some Chryslers) and that the problem was an annoyance but would not affect the safety or functionality of driving my Vibe. Any advice or suggestions?

[vhoward1122]

Is there a relay in addition to the fuse for the instrument lights?Relays will act like that when they get old, worn out, or are over heating. Since you said they once came back on by themselves, it sounds like a relay cooled down enough to start working again.Those big square blocks in the fuse boxes are relays. It may well be that the instrument lights go through one of them also.

[joatmon]

It sounds like you have the dimmer switch turned all the way down and the car is switching between daytime running lights and full headlights. If so, the easy fix is to turn up the dimmer switch some. The dimmer swsitch is on the left by the mirror controls.The 2003 owners manual is only partially correct in describing the relationship of the instrument lights/dimmer/drls

[lovemyraffe]

Wow, this is what I posted in another thread. I guess I just found the other one first.

[Sublimewind]

Quote, originally posted by joatmon »It sounds like you have the dimmer switch turned all the way down and the car is switching between daytime running lights and full headlights. If so, the easy fix is to turn up the dimmer switch some. The dimmer swsitch is on the left by the mirror controls.The 2003 owners manual is only partially correct in describing the relationship of the instrument lights/dimmer/drlsI would look at the above.... There is a sensor on the top of the dash, just near the A-pillar, it's a photosensor (looks like a button) so you could be heading places that it's dark, so it's turning the light on for you, get somplace where there is enough light and it's shutting them off... you can test this with a black T-shirt wadded up and put over it.. I can't tell you the last time I turned my lights on manually...