Problem with a 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix…HELP!!!!

First, Let me tell you that I am about as mechanically inclinded as a hampster. The other night, the wife starts up the car and the dash lights don’t come on (they are those funky red colored lights), she can’t see the gas gauge, speedometer or anything, just pitch black. The red lights (which are factory) quit working on the message display and also on the “shifter” too, all at the same time. I assume it can’t be the lights themselves that would all go out at the same time so, I tested every fuse and they are all okay! Have any of you had this problem or know what it could possibly be? Any help would be greatly appreciated as she cannot drive the car at night in its current condition. Thanks.

Is the dimmer switch turned up as far as it will go before all the cabin lights come on? I’ve accidently turned the dial all the way down, and the result is no dash/radio lights.

I would check Shoots idea, but I don’t believe you can turn them off completely with the dial, just dimmmer. Anyways, I would guess a BCM (body control module) issue, with all the interior lights involved. The cluster and radio lamps are both controlled by this module I do believe.

big g

Do the headlights work? Do the interior lights work when you open any of the doors? It sounds like the dimmer switch isn’t putting out any voltage to the interior lights (dash lights). Take out the dimmer switch and use a volt meter to test the resistance between the leads of the switch. Change the position of the dimmer switch to see if the resistance changes. My guess is that the switch will not have any resistance at all. I’d replace the dimmer switch.

Did you check both fuse boxes? Most cars today have a box under the hood as well as under the dash or on the driverside panel of dash on the side…

Check your Taillight fuse……
That’s usually what it is if your inst.lights go out…….
A saftey system to let ya know that they are out….
If it’s not that, then have your dimmer switch checked

I just had the same problem with my 95 Bonniville. Dimmer switch went bad. Check your tail lights…If they’re not on,You have a bad dimmer switch!

Okay, are you guys talking about the dimmer switch that control the interior lights? If so, is that what it is called? The tailights work. I checked all fuses in both fuse boxes. The headlights and interior lights all work. If I move the dimmer dial back and forth, it brightens and darkens the radio lighting but the dashlights and shift lights are still pitch black. I stopped at O’Reily’s and the only dimmer switch they have is for the headlights. Thanks a bunch guys, I need the help when it comes to mechanics!!!

Two words from a Gm tech that saw this problem last week on a 99 grand prix……IGNITION SWITCH. When it happens beat on the end of the key with your hand and it may start working. Good luck, & let us know what it is.

I tried banging on the key in the ignition, no luck there. Thanks guys. Hopefully I will get to the bottom of this soon without costing myself a small fortune.

I don’t know exactly where it(or they, may have more than one) is, but I’d be looking for instrument panel grounding points