W124 Interior control illumination, backlights

[djb64]

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum and hope that someone might be able to help.
W124 E280 Estate which had a couple of bulbs out on the aircon controls and one of the air vent lights.

Used the forum to find out how to get to them and duly changed them. All went well except for one tiny detail........now none of the backlights work.
No lights on the window switches, gear selection, heated seats, aircon the rear-wiper/hazard switches and the air vents....all dead. The actual switches work fine and none of the fuses seem to be blown.
Lights in the main instument cluster seem fine, except for the external temp light, and the dimmer on the instrument cluster works OK. So at least the car is OK to use at night.

My question is therefore is there a seperate fuse/relay for all these other lights or might I have dislodged something at the back of the radio, which I removed to get the fascia off the aircon.

The only other thing I can think off is that one of the bulbs in the air con (the left hand rotary switch that controls the fan speed) was broken and took some fiddling to get out so I might have broken something behind there.

Anyway anyone got any ideas? If not I'll be off to the auto electrician.

Cheers
David

 

[djb64]

Fixed.....Eventually

After a few months in the dark, except for the main instruments I thought I should really have a go at this...

Had a tip from my local garage as to a possible fix but needed to remove the instrument cluster to try it.
Read the information on the forum, made up a couple of removal tools, took off the panel by the pedals to ease off the speedo cable and had a go. No way the cluster was going to move. I had to take the airvents off on either side to get a good grip and then finally out it came.

Replaced the spade type fuse that comes in red holder on the right rear of the panel and lo the lights came back on. Cost £1.90 + vat from my local specialist.

As an added benefit whilst rummaging on the floor of the car I found the missing contact from my driver's side sun visor. This has been missing from when I bought the car and so the vanity lights now work again.

Bargain repair but much coarse language expended.

 

[jeffwebb]

Well done. Isn't it nice when a plan comes together.

 

[320eneat]

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum and hope that someone might be able to help.
W124 E280 Estate which had a couple of bulbs out on the aircon controls and one of the air vent lights.

Used the forum to find out how to get to them and duly changed them. All went well except for one tiny detail........now none of the backlights work.
No lights on the window switches, gear selection, heated seats, aircon the rear-wiper/hazard switches and the air vents....all dead. The actual switches work fine and none of the fuses seem to be blown.
Lights in the main instument cluster seem fine, except for the external temp light, and the dimmer on the instrument cluster works OK. So at least the car is OK to use at night.

My question is therefore is there a seperate fuse/relay for all these other lights or might I have dislodged something at the back of the radio, which I removed to get the fascia off the aircon.

The only other thing I can think off is that one of the bulbs in the air con (the left hand rotary switch that controls the fan speed) was broken and took some fiddling to get out so I might have broken something behind there.

Anyway anyone got any ideas? If not I'll be off to the auto electrician.

Cheers
David

Have a problem with my car which is not far off yours , i was gonna write a question regarding this but after having read your end result i think i will give it a go myself ! This site is very helpfull will keep updated on my result thanks ! 320eneat