So.. I'm more than alittle frustrated right now with my 2001 Verada XI

Long story short, Basically.. I was driving along when suddenly my radio started to crackle and smoke appeared around it... after which the Dash cluster went dark.. no LED's (the speedo and tacho still work) .. the middle display is blank and the fuel gauge doesn't work.

So an auto electrician told me it's most likely a blown cluster.. so I hunted for ages and got one. however after putting the cluster into the verada and the tip computer.. both are still blank. and there seems to be no power reaching the new MP3 player radio I plugged in.
So it's possible the cluster was never busted and there's another issue?... any ideas mates? ... I'm so frustrated, it's starting to shit me off, excuse the french.

Just need some info; Have you checked all the fuses? Have you identified the source of the smoke?
Is the radio that you're replacing the original stock system or is it aftermarket?
When you say LED's; has someone previously fitted LED's into the dash? (Stock lights are not LED's).

Just need some info; Have you checked all the fuses? Have you identified the source of the smoke?
Is the radio that you're replacing the original stock system or is it aftermarket?
When you say LED's; has someone previously fitted LED's into the dash? (Stock lights are not LED's).

The auto electrician checked all the fuses when I got him out to look at it, the smoke looked to come from the stock radio system as far as I could tell.. and it smelt like burnt plastic when I pulled it out. The replacement is after market with wiring for a Verada loom wired up to it. And the LED's I'm referring to is just the clusters backlights, it's a blackout cluster.. I assumed LED's.

maybe you will need to replace the dash loom.....not that hard of a job

maybe you will need to replace the dash loom.....not that hard of a job Thanks for the reply, .. I'm really hoping it's a simple fix, would that also apply to why there's no power to the Radio?.. someone else suggested I might need to reset the computer or something... I miss the ease of my 1995 Lancer :( ...

The auto electrician checked all the fuses when I got him out to look at it, the smoke looked to come from the stock radio system as far as I could tell.. and it smelt like burnt plastic when I pulled it out. The replacement is after market with wiring for a Verada loom wired up to it. And the LED's I'm referring to is just the clusters backlights, it's a blackout cluster.. I assumed LED's.
Does sound like the stereo system shorted out somehow, but you never now what the cause may be. Assuming its the stereo itself then either you still have a blown/bad fuse somewhere or some other component has also died or possibly a loom has a bad connection (due to overheating of the wires).

What about other stuff, i.e.: is the air-con fan working? Hazards? Headlamps? Trip computer? Car starting? Etc. if its only the blackout cluster then double check you've installed it correctly. Consider if the replacement cluster could be faulty? what do you know about it?

I'd also re-check all the fuses carefully, with a meter or a continuity lamp if you can.
The new stereo should come on with ACC power. If its installed correctly and it doesnt then theres got to be a wider problem.

If its not a fuse then could be a loom problem unfortunately. Visually inspect the looms behind the stereo for any sign of melting (in case it wasnt the stereo that was burning).

I'm not sure that a damaged ECU would stop the stereo from working. Someone else may know that.

Does sound like the stereo system shorted out somehow, but you never now what the cause may be. Assuming its the stereo itself then either you still have a blown/bad fuse somewhere or some other component has also died or possibly a loom has a bad connection (due to overheating of the wires).

What about other stuff, i.e.: is the air-con fan working? Hazards? Headlamps? Trip computer? Car starting? Etc. if its only the blackout cluster then double check you've installed it correctly. Consider if the replacement cluster could be faulty? what do you know about it?

I'd also re-check all the fuses carefully, with a meter or a continuity lamp if you can.
The new stereo should come on with ACC power. If its installed correctly and it doesnt then theres got to be a wider problem.

If its not a fuse then could be a loom problem unfortunately. Visually inspect the looms behind the stereo for any sign of melting (in case it wasnt the stereo that was burning).

I'm not sure that a damaged ECU would stop the stereo from working. Someone else may know that.

It seems everything else is working... just the trip computer, the cluster and the radio are out. But I was just thinking, about a day or so before it all went wrong there was an issue where a few things stopped working suddenly for a few hours before coming back to life *door locks, Petrol flap, interior lights* ..but that's never happened again.

I'll have a look at it again tomorrow, see if it's installed right.. and have another look at the wires behind it for any damage, though it all looks fine.

It seems everything else is working... just the trip computer, the cluster and the radio are out. But I was just thinking, about a day or so before it all went wrong there was an issue where a few things stopped working suddenly for a few hours before coming back to life *door locks, Petrol flap, interior lights* ..but that's never happened again.
Ok, thats relevant. While you're having a look also check that all the ECU connectors are fully inserted. In fact I'd pull each one out and inspect for any sign of burning/melting and re-install. (Disconnect the battery first).

I dont see how a faulty stereo system would cause these other failures, so I suspect something else in common. How is the battery and alternator: How old is the battery? Check that the system is charging correctly.

Have you had any unexplained fogging of the windscreen or dampness in the floor footwells? Is the carpet on either the passenger or drivers side damp or wet?

Failing any of the above, then you may need to get an auto-electrician to trace the issue.
You could try replacing the wiring looms but theres no guarantee thats the issue.

Ok... A quick update.

Dashboard was indeed a fuse... it turns out a lot of the fuses in the engine bay do more than what's displayed on the picture that corresponds with them.

Radio was a short circuit with on of the rear speakers, ..simple fix As for the rest, I'm gonna see if replacing all the car fuses fixes those issues.

:)

Glad its fixed