How to Replace Rheostat/Dimmer 96 Avalon

[nick9070]

I just bought a 96 avalon and the dash lights as while as power to the stereo were out so I checked the fuzes, the panel fuze was blown, replaced it still nothing. I've done some research which leads me to believe that the rheostat/dimmer might be out and that the stereo may be wired into the dimmer and pannel lights so by replacing the dimmer the problem I think should be solved.

I have popped off the vent easily and I can see the dimmer but I am unsure of how to get it out and replace it with a new one. Can anyone give me the details on this process?

Or if it may be a different problem all together and not the dimmer?

-Thanks for your help

[Jigg007]

I would think first unplug the dimmer cable/plug. Then there should be two screws or plastic clips holding it in from the backside.

I'm just going off of memory, I can look at mine tomorow.

[Chunkywolf]

To access the Instrument lighting dimmer. you will need to remove the vent under it on the left, and the center stereo/hvac bezel(both come off from just pulling). Then, you will need to remove the instrument cluster which is done by removing 3? screws that go up into the dash, and 4? that screw in around where the vents were. From there, you can just pull out the plastic that surrounds the instruments. Don't forget the plugs on the hazard switch, clock/temp guage, dimmer, and mirrors.

[nick9070]

fuck eh you do gotta take off the whole dash? I thought I could maybe get away with just taken the vent off... are dimmers pretty much the same? could i pull the one out of my 96 cavalier and it would work?

Would the dimmer have anything to do with why my stereo isnt getting power?

[Chunkywolf]

I don't think it should have an effect on your stereo at all. It may be along the lines of a wiring harness being unplugged or something.

Also, the dimmer knob/rheostat is screwed in from behind the plastic, so to replace it/get to the wires(unless you want to be reaching up through the vent hole with a pair of pliers), you will need to pull off most of the dashboard bezels.

[nick9070]

Okay I think you might be right about a harness being unplugged because the deck isnt sitting properly, like its been jostled around or something... This seems like a pretty big job, how can I know for sure its my dimmer? and can you give me any idea of things that might go wrong during this process as well as things to look out for, I'm relatively new to working on cars, is it a difficult job? do you think I'm capable? lol

Thanks alot for your help man, it means alot

[nick9070]

is there any other things that could possibly cause gauge lights not to work? the fuze under the drivers side was blown but I replaced it, I didnt check any boxes under the hood, is there any fuzes under there that would affect the gauge lights or stereo?

[Chunkywolf]

At the moment, I do not have access to my manuals, but there is most likely a fuse under the hood for the whole dashboard. I'd check that before disassembling your dashboard anymore. I should be able to post pages for troubleshooting the dimmer later today if you are still having issues.

[nick9070]

yah eh? I can probably find out where it is online... and yah that'd be awesome if you could do that man, your a huge help, advice like this is hard to find without paying, it really means alot man cars arent my forte

[Jigg007]

Oh I had it mixed up with the power mirror controls, my bad.

Is it just the instrument lighting? Do the marker lights function? Does the clock/temp display when turning on markers/headlamps?

What wouldnt hurt, instead of hunting for one fuse, just check all the fuses.

Turn the car on.

For the mini and ATC fuses, if you have a multimeter, set it to volts. then take the red lead on one of the top openings in the fuse, and the black lead on the adjacent opening in the top of the fuse.

A good fuse will be 0 Volts, a bad fuse will read 12 Volts. (think, a good fuse conducts, and thus is a short circuit, 0V.)

For any other fuse, with the car off, pull the fuse and check resistance (ohms). 0 Ohms is a good, idea fuse. Anything higher than 1 or 2 ohms is a bad fuse.

[robcam13]

check under the hood. there is most likely a fuse blown there

[nick9070]

okay I will, I really hope its a a fuze cuz that would be much easier... any idea on what fuze? and is there a fuze box in the passenger side foot well that I should check too?

[nick9070]

and the only thing that doesnt work is the lights behind the speedometer and odometer and gas gauges the warning lights, turning lights and transmission lights work, clock and thermometer work,

everything else is good except that the radio isnt getting power