hey, so I have a 1995 Saturn SL1 and I the gauge cluster lights stopped working. I''ve checked all the fuses both inside the car and in the engine bay, I''ve checked the wires, they look fine to me, I''ve checked the bulbs, they seem fine...


I''ve checked everything I can think of checking, and nothing seems out of place or ripped or torn or anything, all the warning lights work(like the blinkers, the oil light, all those) just not the backlight and gauge lights, I''ve tried the dimmer control, checked to make sure it was pluggen in all the way, l read the owners manual and found the fuse for it, swapped the fuse with different fuses, brand new fuses everything, I don''t think it''s the fuse because other lights work, I was going to jump the plug to bypass the dimmer to see if it''s just a faulty dimmer, but there are 3 wires, a black one, a green one and another black one. how should I go abouts doing this?


I don''t want to go to Saturn and buy a new dimer just to test something out... so if anyone knows how to bypass a dimmer switch that has 3 wires, please let me know...


thanks a bunch

Well, the dark green wire is the one that goes to the dimmer fuse, then out to all the dash lights. I would disconnect the connector going to the dimmer module first, then attach a test lead to the dark green wire (terminal ''B''). Since this is the load side of the circuit, you will not short out anything.

Now, turn on your lights. The dash lights will not come on. Take the other end of the test lead, and carefully probe the wire on terminal ''A'', which should be the +12 volts for the dash lights. The dash lights should turn on and off as you test this circuit.

Assuming the lights work, replace the dimmer module

so I don''t use a wire to jump the plugs? what would happen if I connected just the 2 black wires? that would completely bypass the dim switch for the gauge cluster, and as long as it''s an independent series it should work at that point? keep in mind I know nothing about Saturn''s

ok so for anyone that is having the same problem here is the solution:


either buy a new dim switch (mine was faulty), or don''t have a dim switch at all and just jump the plug with a wire... kind of a hack job but it does work, you just wont have control how light or dark the gauge lights are

Which wires did you connect
 

Hmm, this thread was asked 0.5 scores ago (10 YEARS ago and the poster is banned for inactivity......

Anyway: USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. CONFIRM IDENTIFICATION OF LEADS BY MONITORING VOLTAGES WITH SWITCH CONNECTOR ON AND OFF.

Per 11991-1993 Chilton Saturn S car Manual: (93 wiring diagrams seem good up to my 97 SC2...)

Green wire comes in from the Fuse (12V) at the fixed end of a variable resistance inside the DIM ILLUM pot.
My schematics do NOT show two black wires s the other two.
APPEARS that a BLACK wire (PRESUMABLY ground) is attached to THE OTHER END of the fixed resistance inside the DIM ILLUM pot.
This pathway forms a resistive load that, when the slider/tap on the resistance pot is adjusted all the way to include the full resistance of the fixed resistor, the resistive load is at its highest, the current flow is reduced, and the IP lights are dimmed to their min brightness.
The current flows through the tap lead which APPEARS to be BROWN, which then travels onward in the lighting circuit.

As the knob is rotated clockwise, the tap slides across the resistor and only includes PART of the resistance in the load circuit. Lower resistance, higher current, brighter IP cluster

So to bypass the DIM ILLUM Pot, you'd need to jump the green wire (12V) to the brown wire in the connector. This preserves the continuity and passes on the V/I to the next module.
VERIFY THE BLACK WIRE IS INDEED AT CHASSIS GROUND AND DO NOT PLUG THE GREEN INTO THE BLACK. That will be a dead short and will pop the fuse.

My concern in doing so is that this part of the lighting circuit will have NO LOAD (no current limiting), and if everything after it in the circuit combines to draw too much current, it will blow the fuse or overheat the wire.

One way to find out -- YOU ASSUME ALL RISK.
-----------------
Or you can just buy a new pot or get one from a junkyard.


Please report back w your results

Thank you
 

Wonder if that is good on a 2001 l200

Bypass dimmer switch 2001 L200
 

On a 2001 L200 it's the 2 grey wires to bypass the dimmer switch

Ummmmmm

No.

Wait, so you posted an L car question to a 10 YEAR OLD S car section?

You are the weakest link
Goodbye

Um this is the only thread that came up when I searched
 

Hey passing any info is good

not if no one ever finds it and you waste people's time--people who are kind enough to take the time to research your issue and provide a detailed answer only to find they researched the wrong car compliments of whatever impulse drove you to post an L car question in he S series section, knowing full well any response would be for an S car.



That's time in my life I will never get back because you couldn't take another 3 seconds and post in the right section
thanks for that

kinda like that tree falling in the woods /sound thing...
------------------------
Here's some info for you:

Did you know that the chances of lightning striking a tree and the tree falling on you are 1 in 2?

----
And some song lyrics to consider as you ponder your role in this world
----

And I forget just why I taste
Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard, it's hard to find
Oh well, whatever, never mind
----------------------------
He's the one
Who likes all our pretty songs
And he likes to sing along
And he likes to shoot his gun
But he knows not what it means
------------
Hi, my name is, what? My name is, who?
My name is, chka-chka, Slim Shady
Hi, my name is, huh? My name is, what?
My name is, chka-chka, Slim Shady
Hi, my name is, what? My name is, who?
My name is, chka-chka, Slim Shady
Hi, my name is, huh? My name is, what?
My name is, chka-chka, Slim Shady
--------
I caught you knockin'
at my cellar door
I love you, baby,
can I have some more
Ooh, ooh, the damage done.

I hit the city and
I lost my band
I watched the needle
take another man
Gone, gone, the damage done.

I sing the song
because I love the man
I know that some
of you don't understand
Milk-blood
to keep from running out.

I've seen the needle
and the damage done
A little part of it in everyone
But every junkie's
like a settin' sun.
----------------------
Jocko says "Yes" and I believe him
When we talk about the things I say
She hasn't got the faith or the guts to leave him
When they're standing in each other's way
You're tripping back now to places you've been to
You wonder what you're gonna find
You know you've been wrong but it won't be long
Before you leave 'em all far behind

Damn, derf, I didn't know you were a Neil Young fan too. Cinnamon Girl is one of MY favorites. That and Keep On Rocking in the Free World.

Is there a question here?

The question the entire time was/is "should I ban this person over this?"
For their willful wasting of time.

This world is petty enough. -- I'won't make the pile higher.
Nothing to be gained.

So the answer to the question ultimately is "oh well/whatever/nevermind."