Anyone know about car electronics?

[Johann]

I've got an 01 Buick Regal and the back lit dashboard doesn't light up anymore. I've had 3 differnt mechanics tell me 3 different things. One says it's a fuse problem. Another said it's a battery problem. And another said it's a problem with the internal wiring of the dashboard itself. The car itself runs perfectly. But it's kind of hard to tell how fast I'm going at night. That's not good.

Any help; oh you wise boardies?

[shayne the kid]

So you are saying the cluster wont light up anymore? It could be one of three things or a combination of several; the light in the cluster burnt out, the cluster fuse might be blown which would mean that the speedo wouldn't work but it depends on how your cluster is wired, or there is a wiring short somewhere in you dash harness circuit or a loose ground in respect to the short. I don't believe a battery would do it.

[twenty-seven]

drive over a large bump in the road. i did that a few weeks ago and i saw all sorts of new lights on my dashboard.

(i'm mostly joking, except that now i can't get the gear list to stop being backlit...)

[DK.]

So you are saying the cluster wont light up anymore? It could be one of three things or a combination of several; the light in the cluster burnt out, the cluster fuse might be blown which would mean that the speedo wouldn't work but it depends on how your cluster is wired, or there is a wiring short somewhere in you dash harness circuit or a loose ground in respect to the short. I don't believe a battery would do it.
Yeah that's a local issue. The battery is not the cause. Listen to what Shayne said and start with the fuses. If it isn't a fuse, it's a short.

[shayne the kid]

Check all fuses going to the cluster. Even check the dimmer fuse. You can normally see that it is blown. And fuses cost pennies, so just buy a handful and keep them in your glovebox. It could be possible but maybe yours is wired through a relay in which case you would have to find which relay it is and make a little jumper wire to put in there. The jumper should be for testing purposes only! Get a new relay if the jumper makes the cluster light up.

[inaluk]

So you are saying the cluster wont light up anymore? It could be one of three things or a combination of several; the light in the cluster burnt out, the cluster fuse might be blown which would mean that the speedo wouldn't work but it depends on how your cluster is wired, or there is a wiring short somewhere in you dash harness circuit or a loose ground in respect to the short. I don't believe a battery would do it.

yeah this would be my guess