The instrument lights in my 2001 Saturn SL won't turn on. The odometer works and so does all the HVAC, and I checked the fuses and found one blown for the parking lights. This happened after I changed my radio. Does anyone have advice?

 

Did you per chance spin the dash light dimmer **** all the way counterclockwise during the install? It's to the left of the steering wheel and just labeled dimmer I do believe. Rotate fully clockwise nonetheless.

 

I checked that, the dimmer changes the brightness of the odometer and the backlight for the a/c controls but the rest of the instrument panel stays dark.

 

That's bizarre.

Did the instrument cluster get banged around during installation?

I'm not familiar with the third generation S car instrument clusters but first and second generation instrument clusters have bulbs attached to Holders which you place into holes in a circuit board overlay and twist to lock. The contacts for the current to run through the bulb on the bulb itself are aligned with the traces on the circuit board overlay. This is true of almost all of the lights. There are so called theater lights across the top that shine down onto the face of the cluster for General lighting. There are also a few of these across the back. Again they are twist in and lock.

If subjected to significant shock, I suppose the filaments could have been broken, but I would not think all the theater lights would be out but all of the idiot light bulbs would still work. Actually does the airbag, abs, SES, break, oil, low coolant slash high temperature coolant lights work or are some of them out as well?

How did you install the radio? Did you use the appropriate patch cable from the vehicle to the radio or did you tap in somewhere for your 12 volt continuous and 12 volt on with key on feeds?

 

I don't think that I would have managed to break all the bulbs in there at once, but I guess it is possible. And for the radio installation, I used the Metra 70-2002 adapter, and soldered all the connections and covered them with heat shrink. The radio works fine, too. The only problem is the instrument panel lights don't come on with the headlights, and I can't figure out why really. Really confused about this whole thing but tomorrow I'm going to remove the top of the dash again to see if there's anything that came loose during radio installation.

 

Also, yes, the ABS/all other warning lights work perfectly fine, all light up on startup.

 

Sounds to me like there's a ground connection that's not hooked up. BUT, I'm not an electrician or a mechanic.

 

Do you know where that could be? I can't think of any ground I messed up just while changing the radio

 

Found out the problem - the lights were burned out! Pulled out the cluster and all the night lights and the daytime running light was burned out. It's possible that most of them were out when I bought the car and I just didn't notice.

 

I think I should get 2/3 credit for my guess.

Buy some electronics grade contact cleaner for the metal springy tabs which may contact with the circuit board material.