Hi, i've searched the forum, wiki and google with this one, and cant find the answer. So, my question is : I have this little 12 volt battery, what i've been using to test light bulbs etc. My gauge cluster has problems with the backlight bulbs, and only one of them is working, ive changed the bulbs to leds, tried that those work with that battery and still i dont get light to all of them. So actually my questin is : Can i connect my 12volt battery to gauge cluster without allways fitting it back to car and putting the wire connectors to it, and if i can, where to put + and - connector wires in the gauge cluster ? I only want to test the cluster back lights, and try to solve if theres some bad connections or something. I've tried with one other cluster and lights from that one work, but it doesnt have the RPM gauge like the other one with the lightning issue..
Thanks
gauge cluster E30 -89
Moderator: martauto
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Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member
- Posts: 49359
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
I consider it unlikely that there is a problem within the actual cluster if one back light works and the other doesn't. Much more likely to be one of the bulb holders. Does the fault change sides if you swap the holders over?
The power to the bulbs enters the cluster on pins 23 (grey/red) and 24 ( brown/white) of the white plug, and is also available at pins 8 and 20 of the yellow socket.
If you open up the cluster, the copper tracks to both lamps are easily visible, so you should be able to check them visually.
LEDs aren't ideal for cluster illumination, because they are highly directional, and don't 'feed' their light into the plastic light guides that distribute the light effectively, and also don't work with the rotary dimmer.
The power to the bulbs enters the cluster on pins 23 (grey/red) and 24 ( brown/white) of the white plug, and is also available at pins 8 and 20 of the yellow socket.
If you open up the cluster, the copper tracks to both lamps are easily visible, so you should be able to check them visually.
LEDs aren't ideal for cluster illumination, because they are highly directional, and don't 'feed' their light into the plastic light guides that distribute the light effectively, and also don't work with the rotary dimmer.
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bTide
- E30 Zone Newbie
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Mon Feb 29, 2016 11:00 pm
Thanks for the quick response 
I first considered myself that the problem is in the holder, but swapping them makes no diffrence. The reason i want to get the battery connected to it, is that i want to kinda try out the repairs in my kitchen table, rather than in an messy hall, fitting the cluster back and off.. But ill try to get some power to it, and open it again and check the connections properly by the way, the led lightg do work with the dimmer, i dont know why everyone thinks they dont. New tech leds speards the light much better than the old ones, and you cant pick the color you want, if you want some tuning (like blue).
I first considered myself that the problem is in the holder, but swapping them makes no diffrence. The reason i want to get the battery connected to it, is that i want to kinda try out the repairs in my kitchen table, rather than in an messy hall, fitting the cluster back and off.. But ill try to get some power to it, and open it again and check the connections properly by the way, the led lightg do work with the dimmer, i dont know why everyone thinks they dont. New tech leds speards the light much better than the old ones, and you cant pick the color you want, if you want some tuning (like blue).