Hi everyone, I'm new here but this looks like a great place to get some help.

Over the last several months, the lights in the instrument cluster, HVAC controls, cruise control, shifter, etc. in my Tracker have been getting worse. At first they wouldn't come on with the headlights (via sensor or when I manually turned them on) but they'd come on a few minutes into a trip. Then they were off most of the trip but would come on when I'd hit a bump (sometimes). Then it got to the point where they rarely came on but a few times I found that flicking the dimmer up and down a few times would wake them up. Whenever they'd come on, they'd stay on for the rest of the trip. Now I can't get them to come on at all.

In case it helps, all outside lights appear to be working fine. Inside, the dome light is fine, turn signal lights come on, check engine comes on when first turning on the key, seatbelt light comes on.

To me it seems like it is only things controlled by the dimmer that have crapped out. I'm not sure if the dimmer is bad or what. I have almost zero knowledge when it comes to electrical. I have a cheap harbor freight multimeter that I've never used. I pulled the dimmer out and even took the board out of the case (without breaking anything!). Can someone help me with instructions on either testing this dimmer or bypassing it to see if everything comes on? If I can prove it's bad, I will buy a replacement. I just don't want to buy one if it's a different issue!

It is a 2000 Tracker 4WD 4dr 2.0L in case any of those details change things.

Thanks!

 

I forgot to include these, in case anyone wants pictures of the dimmer switch disassembled:


interior dimmer switch disassembled

interior dimmer switch, bottom of board

interior dimmer switch, top of board w/ dial

interior dimmer switch, top of board w/o dial


I don't see anything obviously fried or popped (to my untrained eye).

Edit: sorry, those pics are huge...

 

Leave the lamp dimmer control uplugged. Place a jumper between cavities 3 and 4 on the connector (cavity 1 will not have a wire connected). Drive over some pot holes. If the backlighting stops blinking you need a new IP dimmer control.


If the blinking continues, swap the headlight and taillight relays.

Download this diagram Dimmer control composite.jpg (dropbox.com)

PS: Your photos are excellent. I added them to my collection.

 

Thank you! I will try the jumper later today to see if it gets me my interior lighting back.

If the jumper doesn't bring the lights back, can it be those relays even if the headlights and taillights have been working 100% the entire time?

I'm glad my pictures were helpful!

 

I assumed your headlight relay was good. When I said "swap the relays" I meant exchage them with each other -- they are the same part number.

If all your backlighting is affected, it's either the ground (dimmer control unit) or 12 volt power which comes from the taillight relay.


The taillight relay supplies 12 volts to many other circuits as well. Monitor your ashtray illumination. If it blinks when the backlighting blinks, it's most likely a bad taillight relay. If the ashtray illumimation stays on steady, it's most likely a bad dimmer control. The Suzuki part number for the dimmer is 39600-75F00. An eBay seller says he has a new one for $65 + $12 shipping. For Chevy Tracker 99-04 ACDelco Genuine GM Parts Instrument Panel Dimmer Module | eBay

 

Thank you L84sky! When I jumped socket 3 and 4, everything lit up like a Christmas tree! I haven't seen the dash lights on for what feels like months haha. So it looks like my dimmer switch is bad. I'll order one right now via eBay.

In the meantime, will there be negative effects if I leave those pins jumped? If yes then no worries, I'll just leave them off like they have been but it would be nice to have interior lights tomorrow evening.

 

The jumper will cause no harm. It's the same as the dimmer turned to full brightness. If I could ask one favor, could you post a picture of the connector with the jumper installed? Someone else may need to use this trick someday and a picture would ensure they jumper the correct pins.

 

Great, I assumed that the jumper was like having the dimmer at max bright was but just wanted to make sure.

Here is a picture with a jumper between the 3 and 4 sockets. Just a piece of wire I had laying around that wasn't too long or too large of a gauge. Hope it helps someone else!



Thanks again for all of your help, my replacement dimmer switch is on its way. Next is to figure out why the electric locks in this thing are so weak...

 

Again, excellent photo. Thanks.

I have no experience repairing power door locks but I have read the hard-to-find actuators for the Tracker are the same as the ones for a Toyota Camry (available on Amazon).

 

Thanks for the tip on the actuators! I'm not sure yet if I want to attempt to replace them all or if I want to take it to a shop to have them install third party ones with a couple remote unlock fobs. Our Tracker doesn't have keyless fobs unless they just weren't given to us when we bought it used... hmm..

Also, what are the odds that all 5 actuators are bad? I wonder if something else is sending them a weak signal rather than all 5 being weak/bad? I don't know enough about the electronics in these things to know if that makes any sense. This probably needs it's own thread... also another one for some interior trim clips that broke on me that I can't find anywhere!