Dashboard lights don't work when headlights are on

AcesHigh · #1 (**permalink**) 08-08-2008, 04:10 AM

Hi all, I just searched and couldn't find anything. On my 2005 Altima 2.5S that I just bought the dashboard lights shut off when I turn on my headlights. The dash lights are on as soon as I turn the car on, and stay on all the time except for when the headlights are on. Is this normal, or did the car I buy get rewired at some point in its life? Or is some fuse broken?

Thanks for the help.

UzumakiNaruto · #2 (**permalink**) 08-08-2008, 04:12 AM

theres like a switch on the side to turn off or the birghtness of the lights. see if its off?

teko03 · #3 (**permalink**) 08-08-2008, 04:15 AM

we're gonna ban you if we find out your dimmer knob is turned down

5SpeedL31 · #4 (**permalink**) 08-08-2008, 04:16 AM

Naruto, (hey I like that show too) my lady accidentally turned that dimmer all the way down too. It was kinda funny. But yeah, check the dimmer!

AcesHigh · #5 (**permalink**) 08-08-2008, 04:20 AM

Nope its not the dimmer, I just went out and turned it all the way up and back down. Doesn't do anything to the dash. Something else is wrong here..

1blualti · #6 (**permalink**) 08-08-2008, 04:42 AM

well if the dimmer is on and wont control the brightness when the headlights are on then i would guess its a blown fuse

BT · #7 (**permalink**) 08-08-2008, 05:28 AM

Check to see if the dash lights work in the parking light setting. If they do there, but not with the headlights on, my bet would be the contacts/wiring in the switch itself.

dharmil · #8 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008, 08:15 PM

The problem is the dimmer switch it self... i had this problem with my older maxima. the workers at my shop told me this kinda problem happens a lot with nissan's

calinzier · #9 (**permalink**) 10-09-2008, 05:17 PM

im having the same problem but my gauage cluster and speedo, tach, ect are always on full brightness butt my audio and ac lights dont turn on at all. and i cant adjust my brightness and at the exact same time my running lights went out( my brake lights and all still work but they do not illuminate when the head lights are on like they should>) and i have no blown fuses or melted wires. any ideas

nissan_2003 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-09-2008, 05:31 PM

I'm guessing it was the autodimmer and he wont admit it so we dont make fun of him lol. When he noticed it he ""Oooooooohhhhhhhhh" duh lol. Just playing I had that problem my fuse was blown right out of the fuse box

. Now my ac light dont turn on.

spike228 · #11 (**permalink**) 10-09-2008, 07:14 PM

I'm gonna go with a broken dimmer switch too. But before you buy a new switch, make sure the connection is good.

calinzier · #12 (**permalink**) 10-11-2008, 11:33 PM

it could be im not sure how to test the dimmer though? i dont have a multimetter or i would probably be able to that way. but anyways the connection is good and still no control. and i dont wanna go spend 70 bucks on this switch if thats not whats wrong so any ideas on how to test it?

hazelHOMICIDE · #13 (**permalink**) 11-22-2008, 07:25 PM

The same thing happened to me, lol. I really hope that it's just the switch being turned off! I'll check later.