dash cluster lights October 03, 2009, 02:35:54 PM My digital dash and radio have no backlight all of the sudden. When I turn the headlights on, they come on like they should. Park lights off, and no backlighting. Quote Selected
dash cluster lights Reply #1 – October 03, 2009, 07:33:45 PM Check for a fuse! Dash lights usually operate off a small 7.5 amp fuse but for a full digital cluster it may be higher. I remember when I had my 1985 Tbird with just the digital speedo, it had two sets of bulbs to illuminate it. IIRC, both came on with the ignition and one was deactivated to make it dimmer at night with the parking lamps on. I remember having to replace one of the two bulbs because it was not bright enough in the daytime. I think all the gauges in the full digital clusters have dual bulbs for this purpose. So you should be looking for a fuse that has blown that goes on and off with the ignition key. For the radio illumination, it also has a circuit tied into it that makes the readout full brightness with the ignition on and is reduced when the light switch is turned on. It should be on the same circuit which indicates to me it should be a single blown fuse. Quote Selected
dash cluster lights Reply #2 – October 04, 2009, 03:39:41 PM Checked all possible fuses, they were all fine. All the wiring "looked" fine for the headlight and auto light switches. Ignition switch wiring looked fine. Took the cluster out and both plugs were seated fine. Swapped in another cluster and same prob. Took the radio out again and checked for pinched wiring... nothing. No backlighting with ignition on or running, comes on fine when I throw the park/headlight switch.What to do next?Where is this cluster illumination relay, ive read when searching. The clock in the dash lights up fine, just the cluster and radio/hvac lights Quote Selected
dash cluster lights Reply #3 – October 04, 2009, 09:38:59 PM Down by your battery, really by the starter solenoid, there are a bunch of fusible link wires, use a test light to see if they are all working properly. Back about 5 years ago, when I had my first 20th, I had the same problem, the radio or eq wouldn't come on, the electronic cluster had no backlights, only 1 headlight worked. I was messing around in the engine compartment one day trying to find the problem and I moved those wires around and everything came on. I zip tied them together and everything worked after that. I never found out exactly what the problem was because it never stopped working after that, but it seems like a good place to start for you if it's not a fuse. Quote Selected
dash cluster lights Reply #4 – November 10, 2009, 07:53:42 PM They just popped back on the other day and have been on since, I dunno what to think. Quote Selected
dash cluster lights Reply #5 – November 11, 2009, 05:15:11 AM im a little late...........rotate dimmer thumbwheel to nearly max at the point your about the click on the dome light (assumption is that you are in "auto lamp mode").my dash cut out and came back like that. I lowered the dash intensity and never had the problem again.I assumed the variable resistor tap is worn and in the very max posiitons, its not making the best of contact. Quote Selected
dash cluster lights Reply #6 – November 11, 2009, 07:56:32 AM About to click the dome light is max intensity.....right?I thought when the park lights were off, that wheel was bypassed?? Quote Selected
dash cluster lights Reply #7 – November 12, 2009, 02:18:44 AM this is applicable to a full digi cluster.....with the park lamp sw on or off, the dash still get illumination power from the park / headlamp illimination thumbwheel.I never had the problem again since i repositioned the thumbwheel a hair down.on a base cluster w/electronic speedo, your correct. Quote Selected
dash cluster lights Reply #8 – November 12, 2009, 08:16:09 AM I'll do that, thank you.:D Quote Selected
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