Panel lights won't dim

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Mar 15, 2012 | 10:22 AM

#11

Oldblue

Administrator

Joined: 10-13-2011

Posts: 40,091

From: Welland,Ont Canada

I didn't have this issue last March when the battery died, and I had to replace it!

Mar 15, 2012 | 10:25 AM

#12

843de

Deceased

Joined: 06-30-2010

Posts: 25,739

From: Kannapolis NC

I don't think that would be an issue, but if you prefer, have the battery tested before doing anything else.

Mar 15, 2012 | 11:36 AM

#13

us11csalyer

Senior Member

Joined: 12-20-2011

Posts: 102

From: Ohio

The dimmer is a potentiometer. IDK how the dimmer is wired to the rest of your electronics but if it is putting out a resistance that falls out of spec or is shorted I could see that causing other problems.

Mar 15, 2012 | 12:34 PM

#14

db/sb

Senior Member

Joined: 06-26-2006

Posts: 1,876

From: San Bernardino, California

Quote:

Originally Posted by us11csalyer

Not sure that it's a potentiometer per se in these cars. The instrument lamps dimming control is located in the BCM. The control on the dash is more likely just a position sensor the feeds a signal to the control in the BCM.

Mar 15, 2012 | 02:30 PM

#15

JazzDad

Thread Starter

Senior Member

Joined: 10-16-2009

Posts: 112

From: TEXAS

Potentiometers are so 20th century. Let's put something in that needs a microprocessor to analyze it. Then we can justify charging $100 for what used to be a 25 cent part.

Mar 15, 2012 | 05:59 PM

#16

whopper

Platinum Member

Joined: 04-09-2006

Posts: 7,043

From: Vancouver, BC, Canada

Quote:

Originally Posted by JazzDad

Potentiometers are so 20th century. Let's put something in that needs a microprocessor to analyze it. Then we can justify charging $100 for what used to be a 25 cent part.

And it also gives someone the opportunity to build an APP for that! lol

Too much truth in what you speak.

Mar 15, 2012 | 06:27 PM

#17

oneton

Senior Member

Joined: 07-13-2006

Posts: 1,567

From: Geneva, FL.

Has anyone look at the light sensor on top of the dash. It must be part of the system.

Mar 15, 2012 | 09:14 PM

#18

donbrew

Moderator

Joined: 01-23-2009

Posts: 26,539

From: Fredericksburg,VA

Quote:

Originally Posted by JazzDad

I'll look into the battery. And you are correct; the batteries usually just die. You might park for a minute, come out and a cell is open.

I was also thinking a ground-related problem, but with so many points to check...

If I do disconnect the battery, I wonder if the car will have to re-learn the transmission parameters. https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/show...t=call+surging I don't want to have to go through this again.

I think that the crux of that discussion was that once you disconnect the battery for 20 minutes the computer sees a new world and automatically re-learns everything, it does not lose programming, just memory. Else, how could you replace the battery?

Mar 15, 2012 | 09:19 PM

#19

donbrew

Moderator

Joined: 01-23-2009

Posts: 26,539

From: Fredericksburg,VA

Quote:

Originally Posted by us11csalyer

"Are you a pot head Fokker?" Meet the Parents reference

Apr 5, 2012 | 12:58 PM

#20

JazzDad

Thread Starter

Senior Member

Joined: 10-16-2009

Posts: 112

From: TEXAS

OK, I finally got around to testing the battery with a load tester. It checked out fine. I guess I'll need to pith the computer by disco'ing the battery.

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