* Chrysler Sebring/200 Convertible Club *

I had the same problem on my 98 Limited, I purchased the car used and the instrument lights never came on. After two months trying to convince the dealer that the gauges were supposed to “glowâ€

The problem with EL gauges is that it usually is the power invertor that goes. I do not know if the invertoer is part of the circuit board or not. It probably is though. If you know a good electrical technician (NOT Electrician) they could probably get it fixed for you. You can purchase the invertors from the manufacturers, but you need to know what the invertor is and get the product number off of it. Or you could buy the cheap ones on ebay for around 5 - 12 dollars and wire that in.

Hartless is right about the transformers failing. I installed the glow panel on my 97 JX that i got from a 2k limited, i took it apart and remember seeing a box on the back of the gauges. The wire from the transformer is black/ and orange if i remeber correctly and it fished thru i hole in the circuit board where a light socket would be in a regular panel. Hunting for a spare transformer??????? Pop off your shift knob and pull up your PRNDL21, that is lit with the same EL material. Theres the transformer. Now you know what to look for in the yard. 8)

You need to get yours to the dealer and have them check it against a TSB that came out for the 2001 and 2002 year models for the multi-function control stalk switch. Mine started acting up back in 2003 and they replaced it free of charge (under warranty). It had almost the exact issues you are describing...intermittent dash lights and gauges...then the headlights started going out intermittently...this was a real nasty thing to have happen at night.

The following is a copy of the text from that TSB:

Trip Computer/Radio Display/IP/Dome Lights - Flickering

NUMBER: 08-026-01

GROUP: Electrical

DATE: Dec. 14, 2001

SUBJECT:
Trip Computer And/Or Radio Display And/Or Instrument Panel And/Or
Overhead/Dome Lights Flicker

OVERVIEW:
This bulletin involves diagnosing the root cause of the flickering trip computer or radio display and/or instrument panel illumination and/or overhead/dome lights and replacing the multifunction switch.

MODELS:

2001 - 2002 (JR) Sebring/Sebring Convertible/Stratus

2002 (KJ) Liberty

SYMPTOM/CONDITION:

Some subject vehicles may exhibit a flickering trip computer and/or radio display, instrument panel illumination, and/or overhead/dome lights. This condition occurs intermittently but is usually noticed while the driver operates the turn signals or beam change on the left stalk switch. This condition will not adversely affect vehicle operation and can be temporarily corrected by adjusting the instrument panel illumination dimmer setting. DO NOT change the position of the dimmer switch on the multifunction switch prior to Diagnosis.

DIAGNOSIS:

1. Physically check to ensure the instrument panel cross car beam ground is good. The left kick panel must be removed to see if the ground is loose.

2. Next check the dimmer switch output voltage with a DRBIII(R). This function is located in: Body, Body Computer, Sensor Display, Dimming Level. DO NOT change the position of the dimmer switch before monitoring the voltage across the switch.

3. While monitoring the voltage, activate the turn signal and beam change and look for output voltage fluctuations on the DRBIII(R) and instrument panel lamps or trip computer display flicker. If the voltage varies more than 0.2 volts perform the Repair Procedure.

PARTS REQUIRED:

[ img ]


EQUIPMENT REQUIRED:

[ img ]


REPAIR PROCEDURE:

NOTE: DO NOT REPLACE THE TRIP COMPUTER, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, RADIO, OR BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) FOR A TRIP COMPUTER AND/OR RADIO DISPLAY, INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATION OR OVERHEAD/DOME LIGHT FLICKER CONDITION UNLESS PROPERLY DIAGNOSED AS BEING THE CAUSE OF THE CONDITION.

1. Use the procedures outlined in the appropriate service manual to replace the multifunction switch.

POLICY:
Reimbursable within the provisions of the warranty.


TIME ALLOWANCE:

[ img ]