Lexus Repair: Dash Panel Lights 1994 LS400, lighting problem, combination meter

Question
For a while (about a month) the dash board panel lights would not come on until the car warmed up (about ten minutes after starting). Now they will not illuminate at all. It seems to be all of lights with adjustable brightness. The fuel gage seems to be off also. The meter pointers illuminate during the lamp test at startup for about 1 second then they are off.  

Answer
Dick,

Thanks for the question.

As you may have suspected, it sounds like the circuit board that controls your dash lights and gauges is on it's way out.

The fuel gauge inaccuracy is quite possible a different problem, that would need to be diagnosed separately.

Your local dealer has probably heard of the gauge lighting problem before, and can give you a pretty accurate idea of what it would take to get your gauges lit up again.

Also, you might ask them if they know of someone that rebuilds the circuit boards.  I've heard that some dealers have contacts to get this done, which will save you money.

In any event, this repair will need a qualified technician that is familiar with the gauge assembly.  At the very least, the combination meter assembly will have to be disassembled to replace the meter circuit board.

Hope that helps.

Leonard