Main dash went blank - accelerator dead

Okay, so here's what I can remember. On the combination computer, if the component is helf such that the "connector" is on the left hand side and the screen is on the top surface (I think this is the normal orientation in the vehicule (unless the mirror is doing something funky), then the pins would be the top pins on the connector.

So a "representative doodle" is below. The browning was on the pins marked as "o". To me, the pins seemed like the "end" pins typically used in most connector designs for either power or ground. I didn't scope out the board much to see if the traces obviously gave away the function of the pins (as ground pins often do).


+--+
|oo|
|xx|
|xx|
|xx|
|xx|
|xx|
|xx|
|xx|
|xx|
|xx|
|xx|
|xx|
+--+





And the good news - no problems so far. The new part has been in the car for 1 week and everything seems fine so far.

 

So it's been a while - and I haven't had the problem since. So it must have been the faulty dash computer.

However, another interesting item for people with the Canadian model (with Auto headlights):
- if you have the headlights on automatic
- it is dark
- and the dimmer switch is at "minimum"
Your main dash will go blank - which can be quite odd, when you didn't realize your 2-year old had adjusted the dimmer switch.

Needless to say, the dealer didn't know about this one, and I only found out that is was the dimmer switch by accident.

So if your dash goes blank, check your dimmer switch before you do anything else.

A silly user interface defect - in my opinion, but one that could cause confusion and cost a lot to diagnose.

 

Nope - the drive compartment had not been washed or steamcleand.