93 caravan - no instrument lights

'93 Grand Caravan. All of the instrument lights went out (dash and
console). All gages are functioning. The instrument dimmer switch still
turns on the interior light when moved to the extreme left (or right,
whichever it is). The instrument and illumination fuses under the dash
check out ok.

Where do I look? Could it still be the dimmer switch? The circuit board?
I haven't torn the dash apart yet, but I have to believe there's more than 1
bulb to light everything, so I don't think that's it.

Coincidentally (or maybe not), at about the same time the fan motor stopped
working on all speeds except the highest.

TIA,
Rick

In article >,
"rick" > wrote:

> '93 Grand Caravan. All of the instrument lights went out (dash and
> console). All gages are functioning. The instrument dimmer switch still
> turns on the interior light when moved to the extreme left (or right,
> whichever it is). The instrument and illumination fuses under the dash
> check out ok.
>
> Where do I look? Could it still be the dimmer switch? The circuit board?
> I haven't torn the dash apart yet, but I have to believe there's more than 1
> bulb to light everything, so I don't think that's it.

Did you check to see if your running (tail and parking) lamps
work? The running lamp circuit feeds the instrument lights, a
blown running lamp fuse would not allow voltage to the instrument
lamp fuse.

> Coincidentally (or maybe not), at about the same time the fan motor stopped
> working on all speeds except the highest.

Possibly a common ground point went open.

In article >,
"rick" > wrote:

> '93 Grand Caravan. All of the instrument lights went out (dash and
> console). All gages are functioning. The instrument dimmer switch still
> turns on the interior light when moved to the extreme left (or right,
> whichever it is). The instrument and illumination fuses under the dash
> check out ok.
>
> Where do I look? Could it still be the dimmer switch? The circuit board?
> I haven't torn the dash apart yet, but I have to believe there's more than 1
> bulb to light everything, so I don't think that's it.

Did you check to see if your running (tail and parking) lamps
work? The running lamp circuit feeds the instrument lights, a
blown running lamp fuse would not allow voltage to the instrument
lamp fuse.

> Coincidentally (or maybe not), at about the same time the fan motor stopped
> working on all speeds except the highest.

Possibly a common ground point went open.

>> '93 Grand Caravan. All of the instrument lights went out (dash and
>> console). All gages are functioning. The instrument dimmer switch still
>> turns on the interior light when moved to the extreme left (or right,
>> whichever it is). The instrument and illumination fuses under the dash
>> check out ok.

[ lots snipped ]

In addition to the other suggestions, you might wat to try a full power
down. In other words, detach the negative battery cable overnight.

NOTE: your clock/radio will probably lose its settings.
--
__________________________________________________ ___
Knowledge may be power, but communications is the key

[to foil spammers, my address has been double rot-13 encoded]

>> '93 Grand Caravan. All of the instrument lights went out (dash and
>> console). All gages are functioning. The instrument dimmer switch still
>> turns on the interior light when moved to the extreme left (or right,
>> whichever it is). The instrument and illumination fuses under the dash
>> check out ok.

[ lots snipped ]

In addition to the other suggestions, you might wat to try a full power
down. In other words, detach the negative battery cable overnight.

NOTE: your clock/radio will probably lose its settings.
--
__________________________________________________ ___
Knowledge may be power, but communications is the key

[to foil spammers, my address has been double rot-13 encoded]

>
> Coincidentally (or maybe not), at about the same time the fan motor
stopped
> working on all speeds except the highest.
>

For the fan speed check the resistor for the fan switch. It is located
under the hood on the firewall. If you are standing in front of the van
look to the upper left for an electrical connector that looks like it goes
into the firewall. This actually connects to the fan resistor. When this
thing goes the fan will only operate on high speed. More than likely the
connector and resistor are all crumbly and falling apart. Buy a new
resistor, but go to the boneyard and clip off the connector from one that
looks better then just splice it on to the old wires. I'd use a soldering
job and make sure it gets wrapped to be water tight or you'll have a real
mess shortly after the repair!

Hope this helps.

>
> Coincidentally (or maybe not), at about the same time the fan motor
stopped
> working on all speeds except the highest.
>

For the fan speed check the resistor for the fan switch. It is located
under the hood on the firewall. If you are standing in front of the van
look to the upper left for an electrical connector that looks like it goes
into the firewall. This actually connects to the fan resistor. When this
thing goes the fan will only operate on high speed. More than likely the
connector and resistor are all crumbly and falling apart. Buy a new
resistor, but go to the boneyard and clip off the connector from one that
looks better then just splice it on to the old wires. I'd use a soldering
job and make sure it gets wrapped to be water tight or you'll have a real
mess shortly after the repair!

Hope this helps.