I like to keep my dash lights as dim as possible at night (bright interior lights annoy me, and my eyes adjust better between the road and the dash at night).

Anywho, i went over a bump last night and the dash lights went out. I went to adjust the switch so the lights would come on again, and DAMN, that switch is HOT!! It wasn't just warm, it was uncomfortable enough to make me jump back and yank my hand back as well. It didnt' burn me, but something tells me it's not supposed to be that hot!!

What gives? Are they all this hot or am i going to have to replace the entire unit so i don't burn my car down?

 

I assumed when I noticed the same thing, that it was how it was supposed to function. The lower the lights, the more power the dimmer switch has to absorb and keep the lights from receiving.

My cure was to pull the gauge cluster, and take every large bulb out.
Then I carefully sanded each bulb by hand with some sandpaper.
After putting all bulbs back in and the cluster back together and into the car, I have to say it worked pretty darn well.
I have similar perceived light output to having the dial as low as possible, but the dial is up all the way -so I now have no heat at all at the dial.

Think of it as making your own frosted white bulbs, versus running clear ones.
Doing this may shorten the life of the bulbs, I really don't know.

 

Because "hot" is a subjective term it is possible that you could be having a problem, but it is more likely that it's completely normal. They all get hot. If there was a specific problem and cars were catching on fire, we would all know by now.

 

Yeah mine get pretty hot too but its normal, try turning off ASR or your foglights at night, those buttons are even hotter.

 

Yea, i figured if peoples' cars was burned down from it there'd be something out there about it.. just never know

Yea, i never thought of it that way about having to 'absorb' the energy.

I'll have to look into making the bulbs a little frosty

Thanks everyone