QuestionQUESTION: I have a 2002 Chrysler Sebring and the lights behind the speedometer just went out. All of the other lights operate to my knowledge, i.e., cruise, check engine, etc. Also, the dimmer on the signal arm still dims the center console/radio light, so at unless the dimmer operates independently for the console and cluster (not sure how it could), means shouldn't be that. The only place that has stopped illuminating is the center of the cluster. I have removed the cluster to check as i thought it would just be a bulb as in other vehicles, but I can't identify the actual light source. There is no bulb showing just plain illumination, all the rest are clearly marked for the notice lights. I was told it may not actually be a bulb but something digital but can't make sense of that given the dash is not itself digital numbers or digital dial. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.
ANSWER: Hi Alex,
The '03 manual shows there to be about 6 PC194 illumination bulbs that are accessible by removing the cardboard cover on the rear of the cluster. I doubt that all the bulbs are 'out', so check whether you shows a variable voltage on pin 12 or the cluster plug (orange wire) and verify with an ohmmeter that pin 11 is grounded (black/orange wire). Let me know what is missing and we'll go from there. I assume this is a sedan/convert, but if not is it a coupe?
If it is a coupe then 12v comes on pin 6 (green/white) goes through two bulb and exits to a common rheostat for all the other panel lights via pin 4 (black/yellow) and from there to ground, so check that out.
Roland
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I checked all the bulbs that you can twist and pull out. It is as though the center is lit up by something other than bulbs but there are none missing and in taking the whole thing apart, can't see where they would go. It is odd, but it is as though a light source doesn't exist. Feel pretty foolish with it at this point, but it is getting power and the other components are dimming. As it has the dimmer, is it possible that it is not a bulb but some sort of illuminating strip or similar or am I just really missing the bulbs? There are also about 6 other empty holes where bulbs could go and 2 say illum next to them, but no bulbs were there in the first place and it has worked fine for years thus far. Any thought?
ANSWER: I still don't know which Sebring you have. I added to my first answer, if this is a Coupe so go back and look at that. Let me know if you still can't figure it out
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: It is a four door sedan. LXI.
AnswerAs I explained in my first answer, the wiring diagrams show 6 illumination bulbs that are all in parallel and dimmable. If only part of the cluster illumination is out, then the bulbs for that area must be out. I assume the speedo also dimmed when you changed the 'level' before this happened. I don't have the '02 manual so can't be certain that my '03 is applicable to your situation.
