All of the sudden, we have no illumination lights in the dash. I popped out the cluster, and replaced bulbs and sockets (to make them bright anyway), but still don't have the illumination lights. Every other light in the cluster works. I thought maybe the printed circuit got cut or something, but it appears to be intact. Do these lights sort of run separately with the dimmer on the switch from the rest of the dash lights? Trying to eliminate everything else before I pick up another switch. I've tried cleaning up the flex circuit, tried different sockets and bulbs, and still nothing. I even tried another cluster panel we had, and those same 3 lights didn't work, which makes me think it could be the headlight switch... Every other light on the vehicle works except these 3. The illumination lights, and the high beam indicator. Thanks for any input
does the radio and/or shift bezel lighting work? a test light will be your best bet to isolate the open circuit. don't forget about the fuses.
Well gees that narrows it down. LOL. Sounds like me explaining it to a customer looking for a quote over the phone.
Radio works, light for the heater control area doesn't work, but I haven't swapped the bulb on that one, I believe it is burned out, and will try it tonight. I will try with the test light and see if I am getting any juice through that copper area on the flex circuit where the illumination lights are. Appears like all of those lights on the printed circuit are running on the same circuit and such though?? Checked all the fuses I did play around with the headlight switch, but got nothing, waited until it was really dark out to check if maybe it was just really dim, but nothing. Might try some copper tape, to make sure it's not a cut through the copper circuit, although I don't really see one visible.
I think Darren was just bustin' on you - you put down about everything that could possibly be wrong all in one sentence
Appears I have no power going to the flex circuit back there. Did the test light, and tried looking for breaks in the copper flow through a magnifying glass, looks whole. All the fuses are good. I am at a loss....could it be the headlight switch dimmer fried? No high beam indicator, no heater control light, and no dash illumination. signals work, alt, and oil light work, emergency flashers work....... How about that little voltage regulator on the back of the dash, what exactly does that control??
Wouldn't the high beam indicator only be in the high beam circuit - would have nothing to do with the dimmer
Mine's doing the exact same thing! 74 Maverick. My heat-air control lights up,my trans indicator lights up,no instrument panel illumination! My indicator lights in the panel work,just not the illumination. Weird! I'll be working on that tomorrow,so I'll post back when I figure it out! I wonder if just those use a separate ground?
Have you checked to see if you have power to the battery side of the fuse block terminal? Or try swapping a same size fuse you know is working in the block. I've (rarely) had a bad fuse that appeared solid.
I finally got to work on this,and have discovered that my little "sockets",the part the bulb plugs into,were corroded! These three illumination lamps were the worst ones! I took all of these out and managed to clean them with a 22 caliber bore brush! I bought these LED lamps from Advance Auto,DON'T waste your money!!! They're dimmer than the 194s that I took out! They're made by "Pilot"! I'll see if I can return them,but we all know how that usually works! Anyway,after cleaning the sockets and the little wire loop on the bulbs,everything now works! I put a teense of silicone spray on the bulbs and sockets so they don't corrode again! I still want to find some LEDs for the illumination,but I want to SEE them operate first! The ones I got were $5 each,which I would be glad to pay for BRIGHT ones! Sorry about the exclamation mark,my period is messed up!
