I have an '02 Carrera and the instrument dimmer is broken, so when I drive at night, only the digital speedo and computer display light up. Everything else, such as the gauges, hvac and power window switches are all dark.

So I went in to my local independent shop and they told me that the dimmer switch/controller is not sold separately and that I'd have to buy a new cluster...$2K plus...

Has anyone else experienced this problem and can you recommend a less costly fix?

 

You have a dimmer switch? I wonder if there is a way to bypass it - I don't have a dimmer at all.

 

Have you checked to see if there is a bad connection or a fuse blown? I will take a look at the wire diagrams to see if the circuiting for the speedo and computer LCD is different than the other lighting.

There are clusters on eBay on a regular basis. You can pick on up there for a lot less than new. Also check with the wreckers. And the pricing at Sunset and Suncoast will be lower than the local dealer.

 

Fuses are fine...wish it was that simple.

Do you know of any wreckers or salvage yards I could check?

 

Try DC Auto, Oklahoma Foreign, German Auto Dismantlers, LA Porsche dismantlers. The last two have gotten some bad reviews on occasion. If yours is an 02' remember that it is a MOST bus car, can't use the earlier clusters, and there is a difference between the Tip and Manual, and the Turbo.

There are lots of them out there, no real need to buy a new one unless having the exact mileage correct. On a new cluster I think a dealer can set the mielage to match the one being taken out.

 

I had a similar problem a couple of years ago and was quoted a couple thousand bucks. Then after a lot of research, it turns out that my headlight switch was bad. Are your license plate lights working when you turn your headlights on ? If not, you have a bad headlight switch which is about $100. Specifically, if the headlight switch is bad, the car does not know you turned on your headlight so the instrument lights/license plate lights would not turn on. Good luck.

 

i have about 3 instrument clusters in my garage for parts available!

 

I just checked the headlights and the license plate lights are out.

I'll have the headlight switch checked next week.

If that switch is the culprit, then I owe you big time.