upon further review....

[revetter]

Update on the LED swap out. Apparently I fried something on the electronics card in the instrument cluster, as I no longer have any gauge backlighting. I tried swapping out the fuse just in case, but no luck. Any recommondations on a place to get this looked at?

[Chris_in_NH]

i think the dealer may be your best bet on this one. you don't want just anyone messing with your cluster.

but before you do that, are you sure that you put the bulbs in correctly with a 'stab-and-twist' motion? i don't know how much experience you have here, so that's why i'm asking these basic questions. ;) are you also sure that the backlighting is just not turned down with the lightbulb stalk on top of the cluster (next to the clock set stalk)? turning and holding it to the right should turn the lights up (brighter) :lightbulb: if that's the case. are you also sure that the cluster's 3 wiring harnesses are connected properly?

if that doesn't work, i would give the car a 'hard reboot' and disconnect the neg battery cable for a few minutes, then re-attach it. it probably won't do anything, but it's worth a shot. put the old bulbs back in the cluster and then disconnect/reconnect the battery. turn the lightbulb stalk again.

if you have a 97-02, you will need your 4-digit radio code to get the radio working again after the battery disconnect, so make sure you have it. it may be in your owner's manual flip-case on a business card-sized card, or the code may be written somewhere in the owners manual(s), or maybe written on the option sticker under the front trunk hood. if you don't have it, there is a 'sticky' thread at the top of this forum for radio code requests.

if the lights still don't work after the 'reboot', i would get a multimeter and test the bulb receptacles. you will obviously need to have the 3 harnesses on the rear of the cluster connected while you test. you will want to cover your steering wheel/dash area with a thick towel so that the pegs on the bottom of the cluster don't scratch/gouge your dash.

what are the specs on the LEDs (wattage, size, etc.)? i don't see how you could fry the electronics, especially with LED bulbs.

if all else fails, i see the dealer in your future. :help:

p.s. next time, you should just reply to your original message so that everyone can see the history of your problem without having to view multiple threads. ;)

Edited April 4, 2008 by Chris_in_NH

[pk2]

Update on the LED swap out. Apparently I fried something on the electronics card in the instrument cluster, as I no longer have any gauge backlighting. I tried swapping out the fuse just in case, but no luck. Any recommondations on a place to get this looked at?

I think theres one up on EbaY for $250, Someone told me that they had to be synced with all the security stuff, not easily interchangable. I have good reason to think not. The tip's and Manual trans are different and not interchangeable.

You can turn the mileage forward but not back if you care

Regards, Pk

[Stefan]

Are you saying that the original bulbs no longer work? If it's just the LEDs that don't work, it is possible that the polarity is backward.

[Chris_in_NH]

Are you saying that the original bulbs no longer work? If it's just the LEDs that don't work, it is possible that the polarity is backward.

from his previous thread: http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=19349

"Attempted to change out instrument cluster bulbs with blue LED bulbs, got the first set (3) of bulbs in, and could only get one to light. I understand that they are polarized, with a "right" way to be installed in order for them to work. To make a long story short, after many attempts, couldn't get anymore to come on and then, of course, the one bulb that did light stopped working. In utter frustration, I decided to put the old bulbs back in...and sure enough, they won't work now either. Checked the fuse for the lights, and it looks fine. Not sure what to do, any help or suggestions would be appreciated. I seem to have all lights except for the three which light up the digital read out on the lower part of the instrument cluster. (The digital gauges are still working, using a flashlight I could see the odometer reading, the temperature and the clock working) Looking for suggestions..."

2000 Boxster 2.7

5 speed

[Stefan]

Thanks for the update, Chris. I hadn't read the other thread.

I would start trying to narrow down the problem. I would do the following things, in this order:

Put the old bulbs in and try turning up the cluster brightness :)

Test the old and new bulbs outside of the car to make sure they work

Check the cluster bulb contacts for melting and/or corrosion

Test the output of the cluster with a voltmeter to see if it is actually putting out a voltage

Try a friend's cluster to see if that one works

Connect the car to a PST2 or PIWIS to see if there are any faults