problems with my instrument panel

[shackles10]

i can barely see my instrument panel at night. it doesn't light up for anything. seems to vary on the brightness but never reaches what it used to. i've got an aftermarket stereo in it, and subs and amp and all that but it's hooked up to a capacitor which i assumed would help me avoid problems like this. i'm sure the capacitor works too, as it reads well over 13.5 volts when car is running and stereo is on. i also have an led underbody kit hooked up to it, but it's my understand that those use very very little amperage at all and the instructions even say you can leave them on for days without your car running and your battery won't die, unlike neons. i recently went on vacation for a week and left my car here, and when i came back the instrument panel was as bright as when i first got the car. i barely turn up the subs now and don't use the lights anymore and while the instrument panel has gotten a little brighter, still not as bright as it should be. doesn't seem to be affecting my headlights either and the display on the cd player is very very bright and always has been. what's everyone think? electical problem? not big enough battery? problems with alternator? had this problem since middle of july and wanting to get it taken care of. i'm driving an 02 p5 btw. thanks

 

[1sty]

turn up the dimmer dial

Other then that just turn everything off and see if it gets any brioghter. If that helps then there is something pulling juice form the dash lightining circuit.

Did you connect anything to the dash lighting circuit?

 

[shackles10]

maybe i'm crazy but hopefully i'm taking your message as being sarcastic because i dont know of any dimmer dial on the mp5's. i've turned everything off and no immediate results. i didn't connect anything directly to the dash lighting circuit. although there is the possibility though that when i let best buy do the head unit they did and that is causing my problem.

 

[1sty]

There is a dimmer.
Last piece of the switch bank by the drivers left hand. Its a little dial.

 

[Hutty]

The dimmer is on the left hand side, near the door, right next to your fog light controls.

 

[1sty]

Look above th echange pocket opening and to the right most switch. There is a little rotary dial on it.

 

[shackles10]

boy is my face red!!! first car i've ever owned where it wasn't actually on the instrument panel. if there wasn't one though i guess it would have been the first car that didn't include a dimmer dial. i must have bumped it when i put the switch for the led's in through that little pocket. still makes no sense though as to why it was suddenly bright when i got back from vacation. oh well, if only i was blonde this would be a lot easier to explain.

 

[1sty]

I take it that fixed it?

 

[Hutty]

Heh, better being a little embarrassed then having an electrical problem though (hand)

 

[shackles10]

si si pedro. we'll see when it gets a little darker. the change after coming back from vacation is still not making a whole lot of sense but at least i know where the damn thing is now.

 

[PhreakV]

did anyone have access to your car while you were away?
hehe, that s*** is kinda funny though

(redp5)
(wrc)

 

[1sty]

I just hope its the dimmer and nothing else.

 

[1sty]

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[shackles10]

i had to have a friend move my car because they decided suddenly to repave the street while i was gone and didnt' want to get it towed. but it was dim before i left and dim again shortly after i got back. like i said there's the possibility it was bumped during install of the switch but that was well before i left and the change seemed to be gradual. i guess in a year when the cubs and bosox are both within 1 game of the world series, stranger things are possible. i'll see tonight if that made a difference