Dash background lights

[zsdaniel]

Hi!

In my Peugeot 406 (1998) the background lights on the dashboard not working for some reason.
The distance recorder's backgroudn light, the system/status/indicator/warning lights and the background lights on the middle console (above the radio) are working just fine, but I can't get the dashboard background lights to work.

I tested the light bulbs and they are working, so the problem is somewhere else.

Could any of you can help me with this?
What could be the problem?

Thank you for your answer!

Daniel

[GingerMagic]

H Daniel, welcome.
I trust you have tried to adjust the brightness by the rotary dial by the drivers right knee?
Failing this, I'm not sure what the trouble could be - sorry..

[zsdaniel]

Thank you for your answer!
Some time ago I tried it, but it didn't work, and I didn't have time to mess with it.
Now I opened the panel behind the dial, and it appears somebody unplugged the connector cable.

Now all of the lights work, but the metal parts of the dial get quite hot after waiting a couple of minutes.
Is it normal? What could be the problem?

Thanks again,
Daniel

[GingerMagic]

Hmm, I no longer have a 406 so I can't use it as a hot dial comparison....

I guess you mean the rotary dial, if so it is possible to make the dash bright then unplug the dial?

[dirtydirtydiesel]

It getting hot is just the resistance caused by the switch it's self,

If it's too hot is difficult to diagnose over the Internet.

If your unsure you could just connect up the wires so that the dash is illuminated & bypassing the switch.

If your feeling brave strip down the switch & clean up the contacts so as to lower the resistance.

[PeterN]

The only cause I can think of is that someone has fitted higher wattage than specified bulbs in the dash, it will get warm if its not on full brightness as its a resistor but I don't know how warm.

Peter