I've had this problem for a while. When I turn my headlights on, the gauge cluster lights up but stays very dim. The back light in the odometer is bright, all the warning lights are bright, the aftermarket gauges (boost, etc.) are all bright and all the lights in the stereo and HVAC are bright.

Sometimes, randomly while driving at night, the gauge cluster will go bright as it should and be perfectly fine. Other times it will be bright right when I start the car. Then as I'm driving suddenly go dim. It happens to ONLY the gauges, nothing else.

The previous owner has aftermarket gauges installed, like these (pic from google)


The only part affected is the lights behind the gauge overlays. Its very random. The only reason I care all the sudden is because they're starting to get even dimmer. They used to go dim but it was never a big deal. Now they're either normal brightness or VERY, very dim. Also, the dimmer switch has no affected on the brightness of the cluster.

Anybody experience this? Simple fix? I didn't install these so I don't know what the wiring looks like back there. Or do these overlays use the existing lighting from the OEM cluster? I'd like to just pop in a different cluster, but I'd have to find one with similar mileage. Rip out whatever wiring is in there and just pop the new one in.

I'm going to take it apart tomorrow and see if I can find anything. I'm an electrical retard. I despise wiring... sooooo... yeah. I'll do my best.

Any help would be appreciated.