Unusual: Guage lights didn't light, but all other interior lights did

So here's a first, at least on mine over the last ~18 months of ownership:  

I started the car last night after the car had been sitting all day, and the automatic headlights turned on as normal, which of course also illuminates all the interior lighting.

However although while the interior instrument lighting such as the radio, climate control, switches, pool lighting for door switches/handles, and console gear indicator lit... the back lighting for the speedometer, tach, fuel and temp gauges did not light.  But the flourescent odometer, trip and gear indicator within the speedometer and tach did light.

I tried pushing/pulling the headlight switch with not effect.  Although I did not think to slide the automatic lighting timer on/off to "off" and back "on" as a test.  But turning off the car and restarting cleared the issue and then the speedo, tach, fuel and temp gauges lit as normal.

As I said, this has never occured before.

Is there a relay specific to those lights perhaps?

Al

You said you tried pushing and pulling the knob. By this did you mean twisting it?

matt270avian wrote:

You said you tried pushing and pulling the knob. By this did you mean twisting it?

Yep, both.

I pulled it out, then back in which turns the headlights on/off. And twisted it through its range to dim/light the interior lights. No change.

The only thing I forgot to test with the knob was the timer slider for the auto headlights.


Al

I assume you checked fuses.

Albertj

The slider doesn't affect the brightness of the lights, it just determines how long the headlights stay on after the car is turned off. All of those lights probably share the same fuse, either on the side of the dash or under the seat. Here's what the service manual has to say on the matter:

I hate to say something this vague... However, my car has always had 'sluggish' responses with the interior lights. By that I mean anything that is controlled by the relays in the LCM or BCM can be a little late. Hell, if I twist the ignition too quickly the ATM can't keep up!

The gauges you had delays with are lit by 'real' bulbs, while the radio/climate/speedo/etc are vacuum-fluorescent. I wouldn't really worry at this point.