Dash/Instrument Illumination: Step by Step Search

67Dart273 said

IF YOU HAVE an illumination lamp in the cluster that does not light, then the problem is right there at the cluster. Either one of the harness connector pin/ terminals, or a loos pin on the circuit board(s) (some clusters use two boards) or a dirty copper area on the board where the lamp socket contacts. Weak/ corroded socket, or bad lamp or corroded lamp terminals.

Click to expand...

OK, I made two more tests: A) Turned the head lamp switch to "parking light" position and crawled underneath to wiggle the dash light closest to the driver's door. Result: nothing doing. B) Removed the bulb/socket in test number "A" above and swapped it with the turn signal indicator bulb/socket. Result: The turn signal indicator functions with either mini-lamp/socket and the dash light nearest the door does not work with either one.

Conclusion: I don't see any other way to place the blame for the dash light problem except for it being a defect of some sort with the circuit board. To be continued.

We still need to see if the coolant temp and fuel gauge are working-those I did bench test and they both worked outside the vehicle. Ammeter works OK.