GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Step

Action

Yes

No

Schematic Reference: Interior Lights Dimming Schematics

Connector End View Reference: Master Electrical Component List in Wiring Systems

DEFINITION: The incandescent backlighting or the vacuum florescent displays do not illuminate.

1

Did you perform the Diagnostic System Check - Vehicle?

Go to Step 2

Go to Diagnostic System Check - Vehicle in Vehicle DTC Information

2

  1. Place the ignition switch in the OFF position.
  2. Close all of the doors.
  3. Place the headlamp switch in the HEAD position.
  4. Turn the instrument panel (I/P) dimmer switch to the DOME position.

Do the courtesy lamps operate properly?

Go to Step 3

Go to Courtesy Lamps Inoperative

3

Do the park lamp and headlamps illuminate?

Go to Step 4

Go to Symptoms - Lighting Systems

4

  1. Move the I/P dimmer switch out of the DOME position.
  2. Turn the dimmer switch from minimum brightness to the full bright position.

Do the radio incandescent lamps illuminate?

Go to Step 5

Go to Step 9

5

Are all the incandescent lamps illuminated?

Go to Step 7

Go to Step 6

6

Are any of the incandescent lamps illuminated, other than the radio?

Go to Step 10

Go to Step 8

7

  1. Engage the parking brake.
  2. Place the ignition switch in the RUN position.
  3. Place the headlamp switch in the OFF position.

Do all the vacuum florescent lamps illuminate?

Go to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections in Wiring Systems

Go to Step 11

8

  1. Disconnect the headlamp switch connector.
  2. Connect a fused jumper between the I/P lamp supply voltage circuit and battery positive voltage. Refer to Circuit Testing in Wiring Systems.

Do the incandescent lamps illuminate?

Go to Step 13

Go to Step 16

9

  1. Disconnect the headlamp switch connector.
  2. Connect a fused jumper between the I/P lamp dimming control circuit and battery positive voltage. Refer to Circuit Testing in Wiring Systems.

Do the radio incandescent lamps illuminate?

Go to Step 13

Go to Step 17

10

Test for an open or high resistance in the I/P lamp supply voltage circuit of the inoperative lamps. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 20

Go to Step 12

11

If the vacuum florescent lighting does not illuminate in a component, determine if the component is operating properly. Refer to the appropriate Description and Operation:

    • The Radio/Audio System Description and Operation in Entertainment
    • The Instrument Cluster Description and Operation in Instrument Panel, Gages, and Console
    • The Driver Information Center (DIC) Description and Operation in Instrument Panel, Gages, and Console
    • The Air Temperature Description and Operation in HVAC Systems - Manual

Does the component operate properly?

Go to Step 14

Go to Step 15

12

Test for an open or high resistance in the ground circuit to the inoperative lamps. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 20

Go to Step 14

13

Inspect for poor connections at the harness connector of the headlamp switch. Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 20

Go to Step 19

14

Inspect for poor connections at the harness connector of the inoperative component. Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 20

Go to Step 18

15

Refer to the appropriate procedure:

    •  Symptoms - Entertainment in Entertainment
    •  Symptoms - Instrument Panel, Gages and Console in Instrument Panel, Gages, and Console
    •  Symptoms - Instrument Panel, Gages and Console in Instrument Panel, Gages, and Console
    •  Symptoms - HVAC Systems - Manual in HVAC Systems - Manual

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 20

--

16

Repair an open, high resistance, or short to ground in the I/P lamp supply voltage circuit of the headlamps switch. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 20

--

17

Repair an open, high resistance, or short to ground in the I/P lamp dimming circuit of the headlamps switch. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 20

--

18

Replace the inoperative component.

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 20

--

19

Replace the headlamp switch. Refer to Headlamp Switch Replacement .

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 20

--

20

Operate the system in order to verify the repair.

Did you correct the condition?

System OK

Go to Step 2