I got in my car tonight, went to turn on the lights, and just the spedo, rpm, and the other things around the speedo arent working. Its an 02 sunfire, The check engine lights, and ones around that are working. I put in a new fuse, and still nothing. Does anyone know what else it is?

All help is appreciated, thanks.

There are problems where the back lights don't work. When you say it doesn't work do you mean the back lighting? Or the gauges?

If its just the lighting seriously, Smack it really hard on the side of the dash. These things short out and just a good jar is all it takes to "fix" it.

If you mean the gauges are not functioning then it could be a lot of not so great things

yeah sorry i wasnt more descriptive. Its the lights behind the guages. I notice now when i kill the engine, i hear a quiet whining sound, and when i turned the lights on today, the tach flash off and on, and there was a whining sound...i didnt want to hit it because i dont wanna make it worse, but ill give it a go tomorrow.

tried all that...still nothing..any suggestions?

Im guessing no one else has had this problem? And also, the lights behind HVAC controls arent working either :S If anyone else has had this problem, and figured it out, any help would be apprecieated!

Thanks, Tom

The whining sound could be your gauges going "home" (needle motor noise). Your gauges themselves DO function, but the lights do not? If that is the case, its an extremely common problem with the '00+ J's. You can either whack the hell outta the dash above the cluster, or replace the cluster. Its an easy thing to replace. A Cavalier cluster will fit just fine, but it does not light up red like the 'fires.

I only started hearing the whineing noise when the cluster lights whent out....And it makes the noise when i turn on the lights for night, and when it whines, the odometer flashes off then back on again. I might just have to get a new guage cluster then...Where would i be able to get one? aftermarket or not, doesnt bother me.

eBay has dozens for reasonable prices.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Saturday, July 14, 2007 12:05 PM

Ive 01 cavalier, I got 2 dash gauge bulbs burnt out as well, Also my heater display lights are out, As well as my shifter selector console too, Just havent had time to fix them, Noise from the dash could be as will normal gauge noises, Try replacing the dash bulbs see if it corrects the issue.

Good Luck.

Is there a guide on replaceing them? Is it easy? And the noise from the dash doesnt happen all the time, only once and a while...