Warning lights gone after pod removal/reinstall - ALAN, what did I do wrong??

[VehiGAZ]

So I pulled the pod to replace the ignition electrical switch (p/n 964 613 012 00) due to it leaving me no-start stranded a couple of times recently.

I removed the pod to get access to the screws to replace the ignition switch. I replaced the switch with no issues (thanks for the great write-up, Dwayne!). I did NOT remove the connectors at the back of the instrument cluster, nor did I open the instrument panel in any way. I just moved it to get at the switch.

After about 5 false starts reassembling it (order of operations is VERY important for that task!) I finally got all the components back together, so I hooked the battery back up to see if it would start (it did!!!) and that's when I noticed what I think is the problem... if I recall correctly, and I think I do, more warning lights should have come on when the key was in the ON position, particularly at the center and right of the instrument panel. See first pic below for the view. Sorry for the crappy cell phone pics, but they're good enough to see what's on and what's not.

The second picture shows the panel with the engine running. As you can see, all of the gauges are working (I am assuming the speedo works too, but I did not drive it to check). And no, my idle is not high - I was gassing it a little to get a temperature reading.

I took the pod back off, checked all of the connections at the back of the instrument panel, shimmied them around, then reassembled. Same problem.

I then checked all fuses related to instruments and lighting, and they are all fine. I do not think I disconnected any other wires anywhere, so I am at a loss.

Any knowledgeable suggestions? Or is everything fine and I'm just freaking out?

[Mrmerlin]

the warning lights looks like they are on.

BUT if you have the owners manual simply open to the dash page and read off the warning lights.
The major ones appear to be working is there also a belt tension and ABS warning light lit?

[VehiGAZ]

Thanks for the reply Mrmerlin!

OK, after mulling this over a bit, I realized that my memory of all the warning lights coming on was from when the ignition switch wasn't working... i.e., when the switch was not functioning properly. So maybe they are not supposed to all be on?

Could someone with a known-to-be-working-correctly instrument panel & ignition switch take a pic of what their warning light illumination pattern is before they you start your engine? Thanks!!

[sendarius]

I read your post as saying that the pre-start bulb test isn't showing as many lights as you remember.

From the picture I would have to agree - there seems to be a lot missing. My car has always seemed to have a Christmas tree in the pod until I crank the engine.

[StratfordShark]

That's a very low mile Gaz! Does she ever get taken out?

I don't think you should worry. Just shot this of my dash. The extra lights showing are the tyre pressure warning and the PSD oh and the auto gear indicator <g>. I don't think either system was on your 89 GT (mine is 91 S4)?.

The other lights at centre top which don't show in your car or mine are flashers and high beam warning which of course don't illuminate unless operated, nor do trailer flasher light or parking light warning (I'm not sure if USA cars had these features anyway).

[sendarius]

Oh crap! Digital dash vs '88, how did I miss that?

[Giovanni]

"Warning lights gone after pod removal/reinstall - ALAN, what did I do wrong??"


Guys, the question is directed to Alan , Sorry, I couldn't help it.

[Mrmerlin]

Thanks for pointing out the obvious Gio.
Gaz do you have an owners manual?? this will answer your questions

[VehiGAZ]

Hahaha... Well, Alan is my electrical guru, so I wanted to draw his attention to the thread.


Sendarius - yes, you have it right - I was referring to the pre-start bulb check. Mine ALL came on when the ignition switch was not working properly, but far fewer now with the new ignition switch. I'm not so sure there is an issue at all...

Mrmerlin - yes I have a manual. I will check what it says when I get home. Thanks for the suggestion!

StratfordShark - yes, she gets taken out... when she's running. I bought it 2 years ago with just over 30k miles on the clock, so I am stretching her legs in the 6-7 months a year of clean roads I get around here. Thank you for the proof-in-the-pudding picture. Looks like I am OK or we are both screwed up. I will check if the individual lights (high beams, etc) are working when activated - great suggestion! I now recall that the lights-on warning lamp works correctly...

[VehiGAZ]

Checked the manual - it does indeed say that all warning lights are supposed to illuminate when the key is turned to ON. The picture below identifies the warning lights, but I managed to cut off the identification list.

Nevertheless, lights 5 (trailer lights... who the F is going to trailer something with their 928?!?!), 6 (turns signals), 9 (high beams), and 10 (parking lights) are not coming on when they should. It occurred to me that they are all related to the lighting and the stalks, but I don't know what to do with that bit of info...

I do not have time to hook the battery back up and check which lights work when they are activated in normal use. Hell, I don't even have time to post this but I want answers.

So StratfordShark... we are both screwed up.

I am still hoping Alan visits this thread - he may know what could cause such a fault...

[86'928S MeteorGrey]

It could be that those bulbs are just burned out? If your turn signals work, but the indicators inside don't, I'd assume bulbs... And yes... Make and ass out of u and me.

[StratfordShark]

Originally Posted by VehiGAZ

Checked the manual - it does indeed say that all warning lights are supposed to illuminate when the key is turned to ON. The picture below identifies the warning lights, but I managed to cut off the identification list.

So StratfordShark... we are both screwed up.

I'm dubious.

The flasher signals, park lights and high beam are not warning lights, so they don't illuminate as part of the check sequence. They come on fine in my pod when the relevant function is selected in normal driving though (apart from the trailer flashers as I don't hook up a trailer!)

[VehiGAZ]

I don't know what to make of it either. The manual says that all lights illuminate as a bulb check, so I don't know if you can cross the flashers/lights/high beam indicators off the list. And as I mentioned in my original post, they all came on when the ignition switch was not starting the car (I never really noticed what came on before I ran into this problem.

If someone could check on their car and snap a pic of the lights all coming on before starting, that would extremely helpful!

[Alan]

Seems you are missing the seat belt warning and ABS on the left and the Check engine light on the right

If you have airbags you should have another light on the left but it comes on only temporarily (not through the whole bulb test)

You are also missing all 4 of the gauge end segments lights which should also be on in bulb test mode

My GTS has PSD & RDK/TPMS lights on the right side too but you probably don't have those.

Most likely is that you did accidentally disturb one of the pod connectors - time to go in again....

Alan

PS the highbeam, flashers, trailer flashers, 'marker lights only' indicators are not in the bulb test - because you can simply turn them on any time you like to test their operation.

[Bill Ball]

I see the seat belt warning and the ABS on the first photo (top left). Also, seatbelt warning times out rather quickly, so some may miss it. 89 has no check engine light, right? I think that is later only.

Gaz, yours matches up with my 89 except I also have shift indicator lights (AT), of course. If you signals are not workiong, that is a different issue, but you dash lights up just like mine when the ignition is switched on..