Instrument Illumination

[MWMan]

I have had my 2003 V70 for a little while now, and have struggled viewing some of the Green displays on DIM, especially when its bright outside. Today I thought I would have a play with the instrument illumination scroll wheel on the light switch panel.

Whatever I do with it, there is no change to the display lighting level. I read the owners handbook and it mentions that there is a instrument panel illumination sensor on the climate control panel. So I put thumb over the sensor and no change at all in the brightness.

I'm not sure if this is a sensor fault, a thumb wheel fault or both. Can anyone shed any light on the issue (pun intended).

thanks

[Brendan W]

I don't think the backlights for the message boxes are variable, the backlights for the instruments are. Maybe the bulb is tired ?

[D5meister]

Hi, its normal to have odd lamps off in the back there.

I think theres about ~10 in total and 3 three different wattages.


If some got replaced they may have fitted the lower wattage lamps in error.


All of the fault indicators are LED - universally on the panel.


The lamps can be changed without DIM removal - you can flop it forward enough to twist the lamp holder bayonets out.

If you go into it to look one or more bulbs will fail as the filaments will be crystalline and super delicate.

[Brendan W]

The big message box at the bottom left has two bulbs. If one, especially the left, blows, the thing will be hard to read.

[MWMan]

Originally Posted by D5meister

Hi, its normal to have odd lamps off in the back there.

I think theres about ~10 in total and 3 three different wattages.


If some got replaced they may have fitted the lower wattage lamps in error.


All of the fault indicators are LED - universally on the panel.


The lamps can be changed without DIM removal - you can flop it forward enough to twist the lamp holder bayonets out.

If you go into it to look one or more bulbs will fail as the filaments will be crystalline and super delicate.

Originally Posted by Brendan W

The big message box at the bottom left has two bulbs. If one, especially the left, blows, the thing will be hard to read.

Thanks Brendan / Steve

I have just been to have a look at my DIM and I have attached some pictures. I cannot see any bulbs, and yet I remember when you took you DIM out Steve, I seem to remember some small bulb holders on the back. Mine is a 2003 V70 - has it got a later version than yours? or do I have to take out the PCB as well? Truth be told, its mainly the clock that I am trying to see during daylight. The message centre seems fine, but I really struggle make out the clock, outside temp and the gear position.

[Brendan W]

Mine's different. Has 13 screw in bulb holders scattered over the back.
The long number is 170400293 and the date is 02 12 02

[D5meister]

Sorry John, hadnt realised yours and mine are different.

Im guessing yours are led backlit - as there appears to be no user serviceable parts.

You dont muck about !

If you didnt remove the Batt neg you will have to reset your SRS airbag fail.

S

[MWMan]

Mmmmmmmm still makes you wonder why the thumb wheel and the illumination sensor don't seem to do anything.

Thanks anyway. I shall continue to mull on this one.

[reggit]

Originally Posted by MWMan

Mmmmmmmm still makes you wonder why the thumb wheel and the illumination sensor don't seem to do anything.

Thanks anyway. I shall continue to mull on this one.

I'm assuming the thumb wheel won't be anything as simple as a rheostat in these canbus cars?

[oragex]

As above, first time I see this type of DIM. Perchance was taken from another car given your 2003 was prone for DIM failure?

A poster said the backlight might come from tiny surface mounted leds. These are only serviceable by a repair shop. On the more common DIM, the message display being lit by two light bulbs, if one is burnt we can still see the display, just less well backlight.

Picture shows what seems to be (on the backside) the mounting points of the surface leds for the message display.