1999 Sienna Dashboard Bulb Burnt Out

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rfguy - 27 Nov 2005 02:24 GMT

Can anyone please provide a description of how to replace the dashboard
bulb. The speedometer / guages have no lights any longer. The radio and
console buttons are all OK.

Could this be a simple fuse issue? And yes, the dashboard light
brightness adjustment has been checked.

Thanks for any help.

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Hachiroku - 27 Nov 2005 02:37 GMT

> Can anyone please provide a description of how to replace the dashboard
> bulb. The speedometer / guages have no lights any longer. The radio and
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Thanks for any help.

You have a bigger problem than a bulb. There are a number of bulbs back
there; if it were one bulb, only one guage or section would be out.

My bet is, there is a loose connection, either at the connector or the
back of the dash panel. Id look under the dash in a dark area with the
lights on and the dashpot all the way to Bright, and then check
connections under/behind the dash. If you can, have someone else there to
either wiggle while you watch (hey, if she' HOT, I'll come watch, too...)
er, or watch while you wiggle (count me OUT on this one!) and see if the
guage lights flicker or something. Of course, the darker the better.

Try this first before we go ripping the dash out...it can be a pain.

Actually, you will probably have to remove the lower panel to get beter
access to the connections, anyway. Look for 3-4 screws along the top of
the panel, an 2-4 along the bottom.

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I've spent a great deal of money on Whiskey, Women and Fast Cars

The rest I've squandered.

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rfguy - 27 Nov 2005 02:45 GMT

Hey Haichiroku, thanks for the response.

Additionally to what I mentioned already, it appears that the light(s)
went out slowly. I remember that they were much dimmer then they
originally were for a few months before they went out completely.

Would this indicate that perhaps they did burn out in stages and that
they're now all gone or can the connection issue you mention have
occurred in such a way?

Thanks again!

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Hachiroku - 27 Nov 2005 03:01 GMT

> Hey Haichiroku, thanks for the response.
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Thanks again!

Wow, that IS weird!

Now, did the radio dim with the dimmer before? DOES it dim with the dimmer
NOW? Check that out.

You have me on this one. Unless it's a flourescent display, it's weird to
have the whole guage cluster go out at once. The way I would go about this
one is to start at the dimmer. You say you already did this; it should be
a one-contact dimmer; one wire for voltage in and one wire from the wiper
out to the dash.

If it is by chance a dual-gang dimmer I could see what you're describing
happeneing, but usually it's one winding and one wiper...

Ok, so to remove the dash, remove the lower panel, and then remove the
bezel from around the guages. There should be 3-4 screws at the top.
Remove the bezel and you should see 4-6 screws holding the dash cluster
in, remove these and carefully fanagle the dash cluster around the
steering wheel; remove the harnesses in the back before pulling TOO hard.

Look for broken/burned traces on the printed circuit on the bvack onf the
panel. Also look for frayed/broken wiring in the harneess.

These are just shots in the dark...I never heard of a problem like this,
unless there is a short or open somewhere. My '85 Celica has one light
that would go out occasionally, but a good WHACK to the side of the
cluster brings it back!

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I've spent a great deal of money on Whiskey, Women and Fast Cars

The rest I've squandered.

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rfguy - 27 Nov 2005 03:31 GMT

Hi again, for what it's worth, I just went outside and checked and yes,
the dimmer control does operate the lights in the radio and other
buttons around it with no problem. Thanks!

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Hachiroku - 27 Nov 2005 19:07 GMT

> Hi again, for what it's worth, I just went outside and checked and yes,
> the dimmer control does operate the lights in the radio and other
> buttons around it with no problem. Thanks!

Hey! Let us know how you made out with this, 'K?

Signature

I've spent a great deal of money on Whiskey, Women and Fast Cars

The rest I've squandered.

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rfguy - 27 Nov 2005 23:10 GMT

Hachiroku,
So far your assistance has been invaluable. I started taking the dash
apart and "working" the wiring harnesses as you suggested and lo and
behold the light started working on the right side of the guages (fuel
and speedometer)! I was thinking that I was all set if what you
suggested would work.

Since I didn't have any bulbs as of yet and the left side of the dash
didn't work after jiggling it around I didn't proceed to crack the
dashboard open all the way.

As an aside, after removing the bottom screws, the plastic bottom
housing, the inside bottom metal housing I'm kind of at a loss as to
how to proceed and as to whether I may actually be able to get at the
remaining bulb from the bottom or if the whole dash will need to be
moved forward. Anyways, I've got some work ahead of me.

Thanks again, RFguy.

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